New Vt. program aims to help startups, tech sector

A view of the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The state of Vermont recently announced the launch of its first technology-based economic development program.

It is designed to catalyze growth in Vermont’s high-tech business sector through increased access to targeted technical and research assistance, Vermont officials said. Coined as Elevate Vermont, the goal of the multi-faceted program is to help accelerate early-stage technology companies and help established small businesses remain relevant in a global market.

"Supporting businesses in every region of the state to retain and create jobs remains a top priority of my administration,” said Gov. Phil Scott in a Wednesday statement. “This program will help our innovative employers grow and succeed in the global marketplace, while strengthening our communities here at home.”

H.439 (Act 74) appropriated $800,000 to the program in the 2021 legislative session. An extensive request for proposals (RFP) process has resulted in the selection of outside experts who can assist Vermont businesses in successfully applying for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants, according to officials. Every year, the federal government grants out over $3 billion to small businesses through the SBIR/STTR programs and a highly competitive application process.

Elevate Vermont will support companies seeking this funding through one-on-one SBIR/STTR application assistance from professional advisors at North Carolina-based Eva Garland Consulting, LLC. The application for this Technical Assistance is now open and accepting submissions on a rolling basis until funding is depleted.

“Vermont has never before had such opportunity to support startups and early-stage tech companies,” said Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein, in the recent announcement. “These investments present an enormous opportunity for the state’s growing tech sector.”

In the coming months, two additional applications will become available under the Elevate Vermont moniker to provide even more support for companies engaged with SBIR/STTR. Eligible participants may qualify for matching grants to accelerate the commercialization of their technology, offsetting costs such as sales and marketing expenses that cannot be supported with SBIR/STTR funds, according to the state.

Elevate Vermont will also provide an Innovation Research Partnership Program to help small businesses strengthen connections with research institutions that can assist them in solving challenging product development issues.

To receive notification about the Elevate Vermont program as more information becomes available, subscribe to the Department of Economic Development newsletter.

The information in this article is from a press release from the Office of the Governor of Vermont.

Broadband money to benefit multiple Vt. regions

West Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When it comes to statewide challenges, broadband is a perennial issue in rural states and money is a consistent obstacle. However, Vermont officials this week announced $9.9 million in federal grants to aid broadband expansion in the state. 

The Vermont Community Broadband Board will issue the grant money to four communications union districts (CUD’s). These volunteer-run municipal organizations are working to improve high-speed broadband access — a need that was hugely exposed in 2020 when many had no choice but to work or learn remotely. 

The grant funding will mainly benefit communities in the Northeast Kingdom and central and southern Vermont. CUD’s receiving funds include the Deerfield Valley Communication Union District in southeastern Vermont ($4,111,318), Maple Broadband in Addison County ($2,399,200), Central Vermont Fiber in Washington County ($2,804,667) and Northwest Communication Union District in northwestern Vermont ($604,376). The grants are for preconstruction costs, including business planning, pole data surveys, and engineering work.

In the Monday announcement, Christine Hallquist, executive director of the state’s Community Broadband Board, praised the teamwork around this issue. 

“Vermonters have been working decades to get broadband to every address in Vermont,” she said. “It is exciting to see that goal within reach. I am so grateful to the hundreds of volunteers, the Legislature, the Administration and the many branches of state government that are working together to make this happen.”

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch told the media at the Monday press conference that the toughest part was yet to come. 

“We did our part to get funds, but you know the hardest part? It’s taking those funds and then in a responsible, careful, effective way to actually get them deployed and get those homes wired,” Welch said. 

Gov. Phil Scott also spoke to the great need for this money, especially given the experiences of the past 18 months. 

“We saw how challenging it was for some families and kids who didn’t have access to broadband when we closed schools and had to resort to remote learning,” Scott said. “We also saw the challenges for working Vermonters who didn’t have access to broadband when we asked them to stay home. Access to broadband is a necessity in the 21st century.”

Grants funding the construction work will be issued early next year. Three of the four groups awarded in this first round of grants plan to start construction in the spring of 2022. 

According to a Pew Research study released in August, seven out of 10 rural Americans say they have a home broadband connection — up from six out of 10 in 2016. The study notes that despite the increase, “rural residents are still less likely than those living in suburban areas to report having home broadband.”

— Gareth Henderson