Administers programs that work with farmers and others in the food system to engage in and share research, information, technical assistance, and educational opportunities. The Pasture Program offers technical and outreach assistance to help livestock farms reduce purchased feed and labor costs to maximize local farmland and assets. The Land Access Program helps new and existing farmers find the land they need to grow crops, raise livestock, and care for the natural environment while building financial viability. The Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)/ Farm Produce Safety program helps farmers learn the best ways to ensure the safety of their produce, an increasingly common requirement among retail and institutional buyers. Our Local Food program fosters relationships between farms and food-insecure people, gives farmers resources to help them work effectively with food access organizations, and helps identify policy actions to support getting Vermont-produced food to under-served Vermonters. Website has many links to online publications and workshop schedules.

Offers technical assistance and a wide range of regional business development workshops; from basics, such as Steps to Start a Business, Pricing Your Market, and Legal Considerations; to more advanced subjects that include Steps to Grow Your Business and Opening Doors to Government and Corporate contracting. Also offers online learning opportunities. Also offers women’s business enterprise certification. Scroll down website to see workshop schedule. Provides Connect to Success Scholarship Fund for one woman business owner per year to pay for CWE courses, networking events, and/or Women's Business Enterprise National Council Certification.

Provides a range of business assistance services, including technical assistance; a listing of local, state, and federal grants and resources; marketing support; links to training; vendor opportunities; guidelines for business operations; and information about commercial space availability.

Provides economic and labor market information in printed and electronic formats and serves as a source of announcements and reports on current issues of interest to the workforce and employers.

Provides an entrepreneurial education and training program offering an introduction to entrepreneurship for veterans and military spouses. The curriculum provides assistance to those interested in exploring business ownership or other self-employment opportunities by leading participants through the key steps for evaluating business concepts and providing foundational knowledge required to develop a business plan. Individuals are introduced to a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial business concepts and resources available to access start-up capital, technical assistance, contracting opportunities, and more. Call or visit website to register.

Provides information, technical assistance and support for community members who are starting or running farms or food businesses, in order to help meet the basic needs of the region's population for food and sustain the economic viability of farming operations while preserving nonrenewable resources and the fertility of farmlands.

Offers business advising to eligible farmers, agriculturally-related businesses (including food businesses), forest products enterprises, and forest landowners. A network of advisers provides business planning and technical assistance. The Viability Program also makes grants available on a competitive basis when funding allows.

Provides information on small business ownership to service members, vets, and their families, including “Introduction to Entrepreneurship” classes known as “Boots to Business” and "Boots to Business-Reboot." Also offers business counseling, technical and financial skill development, business assessments, and one-to-one mentoring. Provides assistance and training on a range of topics, including funding options, business plans, preparation of loan request packages, and business expansion approaches. Scroll down website for Request for Counseling link.

Provides resource coordination, an online resource directory, free short-term counseling for farmers and farm families, a peer farmer program, post-disaster planning assistance, and an after hours hotline staffed by trained mental health practitioners.

Provides loans and technical assistance for private, non-profit, home- and/or center-based child care providers, with a particular focus on support for early care and education programs that serve infants and toddlers, children from low and moderate income households, and children with special needs.