Senator Leahy's Women's Economic Opportunity Conference

Don't miss this great event on November 10, 2012 in Randolph.  There's something for every woman enterpreneur or entrepreneur want-to-be!

Information at Women's Economic Opportunity Conference

Think Local Food...

Check out our presentation at the SRI Conference on Sustainable Responsible Impact Investing conference in October - "Think Local Food: Real Prosperity Starts Here"

Go to http://sric2012.pathable.com/#meetings/50447 and then in the upper right corner directly under “materials” section is a link to the audio of this presentation (B-19).

Get involved and put your money where your mouth is!

Vermont Investor Forum Looking for Applicants!

The Vermont Investors Forum is seeking applicants to present at the annual event on 11/7/12 at the UVM Davis Center in Burlington.   Entrepreneurs if you're looking for capital, don't miss this chance to get in front of angel and institutional investors from around the region and make your pitch.   This is a great opportunity for expanding your networks as well.

 

Deadline to apply is coming up quickly on August 31, 2012.

Visit http://vermontinvestorsforum.com/ to learn more or apply, or call Linda Dissinger at 802.658.7830.

We got Launcht!

The Flex Fund just got Launcht with the help of the William James Foundation's Sustainable Business Plan competition.  We made the first of 3 rounds of cuts in the competition and now have our own Launcht page to help raise funds and get us a vote closer to the final round of the competition.  So visit our page, donate (no amount is too small!) and help us get the word out that slow, small-scale, local investment in rural businesses can really work!

Slow Food, Slow Money, now Slow Finance

Looks like investing in local businesses over the long term has gotten some international attention. 

Slow Finance in The Economist

Only in Vermont...

Only in Vermont would you see Vermont's Governor, the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture and Human Services all convene in one room to talk about our agricultural renaissance and the value of agriculture and the food system to Vermont's economy!  This past Monday and Tuesday, 150 people from organizations across the State came together to help move the Farm to Plate Strategic plan - Vermont's 10 year plan to strengthen our farm and food system - forward.  It was the launching pad for the Farm to Plate Network and if you want to see what people had to say, visit VSJF's facebook page for first hand accounts from participants.

It's never too late to get involved - and participate in moving Farm to Plate forward.  Learn more at the Farm to Plate website.

Flex Fund Partners with ShadeFund

The Flex Fund has signed on to the ShadeFund's partner program!  

ShadeFund is a joint project of The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and provides small loans to promising green entrepreneurs across America.  We're helping them get the word out about their new program.  

ShadeFund loans range between $5,000 and $50,000 and are provided to green entrepreneurs who work in sustainable forestry and forest products, sustainable or organic farming, eco-tourism, natural food and medicines, biomass, and energy efficiency project.  ShadeFund's model enables individuals, companies and foundations to help green entrepreneurs across America grow their businesses and create jobs. Tax deductible contributions to ShadeFund are pooled and lent to qualified small green businesses nationwide. As entrepreneurs repay their loans, those same dollars are recycled to help other entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

So if you're a small green business looking for capital, now you've got yet another option for funding to help grow your business.