Message from the CEO
Welcome to November. I hope you were able to appreciate the vibrant colors of October. It was truly inspiring to witness our hills transform.
Last week, we unveiled our 2026 Annual Report and celebrated the achievements at the 2026 VEDA Annual Meeting & Luncheon at The Essex Resort & Spa. Approximately 170 guests attended to learn about our accomplishments, meet borrowers, and hear from Governor Scott and Middlebury College Professor Gary Winslett. More details about the Annual Report are available below.
We are actively participating in and sponsoring various events in November. You can find a list of them below. If you're hosting an event and require a speaker on financing, please reach out; we're always eager to share information about VEDA's work.
I wish you a delightful Thanksgiving.
Best, Joan Goldstein VEDA CEO
Annual Report Results
During FY2026, VEDA provided 176 loans totaling $59.8 million to commercial and agricultural businesses. The full report is available online, featuring financial details, our portfolio, insights into VEDA's venture capital involvement, and success stories of four Vermont companies that leveraged VEDA financing to grow.
VEDA Webinar Survey
Interested in learning more about VEDA's offerings and support for businesses? Please complete this one-minute survey to suggest topics for an upcoming Lunch and Learn webinar.
New Loans in October
- Goulet Farm, South Hero
- SAC Fastener, Williston
- Sunrise Orchards, Cornwall
- Integrative Acupuncture, Williston
- Shepard Maple Production, Lincoln
- Burlington Beer Company, Williston
- JJ’s Pub, Montpelier
VEDA also facilitated a tax-exempt bond for the Lake Champlain Waldorf School in Shelburne.
Borrowers in the News
Seven Days! featured Oru, developers of a woodstove monitoring system.
Southwind Forestry of Pawlet was awarded the 2026 PLC Vermont Logging Contractor of the Year. VEDA supported their purchase of new equipment.
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) won the Real Estate Development and Reuse Gold Award at the IEDC's 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards for revitalizing a contaminated former machine shop in Wilmington, where WheelPad now manufactures accessible homes.
In the Community
VEDA representatives attended various community events in October:
- Vermont Council on Rural Development Leadership Summit, Castleton
- Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Town Fair, South Burlington
- Vermont Community Development Association Fall Conference, Vergennes
We also participated in panel discussions at:
- REV Annual Conference, South Burlington
- Future of Farming series, St. Albans
- Access to Capital event, UVM Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships
Additionally, we attended:
- Lamoille Economic Development Corporation Annual Luncheon, Johnson
- Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Awards, Essex Town
- REV2026 Women in Energy Breakfast, South Burlington
- Biz2Biz Expo, South Burlington
- Rumble in the Kingdom pitch competition, St. Johnsbury
Upcoming Events
- November 3: Ellen Howrigan, Senior Agricultural Loan Officer, on a panel at Navigating Funding Opportunities for Vermont Dairy Producers, St. Albans.
- November 5: Eric Hall, Senior Agricultural Loan Officer, on a panel at Navigating Funding Opportunities for Vermont Dairy, [location not specified].