New Annual Report Data Shows Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Benefits Vermont’s Economy

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, a joint initiative between the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, was initially launched in 2012 with the mission to grow the economies, cultures, and communities of Vermont's working landscapes by investing in critical leverage points across Vermont’s farm and forest sectors.  To date, the Working Lands Enterprise Board has invested in 74 agriculture and forestry projects in all fourteen Vermont counties, distributing $2.1 million dollars in Working Lands funds, and leveraging an additional $3.1 million dollars in matching funds.

While only 23% of funded projects have reached the end of their official grant timelines to date (grant agreement timelines range from 12, to 18 months in length) recently released data from Fiscal Year 2013 indicates positive trends within the Vermont’s ag and forestry sectors due to Working Lands investments, including:

• 25 new jobs created (full time equivalents)   
• Aggregated gross income increased by $880,831 across sectors
• Grant recipients increased product output by an average of 25%
• 91% of grant recipients increased their capacity to fulfill additional contracts
• 74% of grant recipients feel Working Lands grant funding had a high or very high impact on their business  

To find out more about the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, to download additional data, and to review program goals for 2015, please visit our website and check out our Fiscal Year 2014 Annual  Report.  Questions?  Contact  Noelle Sevoian at 802-585-9072, or email working.lands@state.vt.us.                

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About the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets: VAAFM facilitates, supports and encourages the growth and viability of agriculture in Vermont while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers and the environment.  www.Agriculture.Vermont.Gov