Slow Money Vermont to host Entrepreneur Showcase on May 7

White River Junction, VT – Local food entrepreneurs will present their businesses to an audience of investors, service providers, and fellow entrepreneurson May 7, 2015. Special guest Michael Pieciak, Deputy Commissioner of the VT Department of Financial Regulation, will talk about the new VT Small Business Offering Exemption (VSBOE). The event will be the first entrepreneur showcase convened by Slow Money Vermont.

Slow Money Vermont is an emerging network that aims to inform, inspire and connect investors, philanthropists, individuals, and businesses interested in building a sustainable local and regional food system and to catalyze new investment opportunities in the people, businesses and communities that contribute to a sustainable food economy. Slow Money Vermont chair Eric DeLuca says, “Entrepreneur showcases are at the heart of Slow Money’s mission to catalyze the flow of capital to local food systems and bring money back down to earth.” Slow Money Vermont is being incubated by a task force within the Vermont Farm to Plate Network—Vermont’s statewide collaboration to strengthen the food system. 

Vermont is a hotbed of local food enterprises and Slow Money Vermont formed to complement the financing options available statewide to food entrepreneurs. Slow Money catalyzes the ability of individual investors to engage directly in their communities. Through events, network development, and outreach Slow Money Vermont seeks to increase the flow of knowledge and capital in support of VT food system enterprises.

The May 7 showcase event will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories and network with investors and service providers to help shape the future of the Vermont food economy. The event has a registration fee of $20 and will run from 5:30 -8:00 p.m. at the Hotel Coolidge in White River Junction. In addition to entrepreneur presentations, the event will include ample time for networking. Light refreshments featuring local products will be served and a cash bar will be available.

Registration is required for the event. To attend, RSVP to: slowmoneyvt@gmail.com and be sure to include name, email, and contact information. Registrants are asked to indicate whether they are an entrepreneur, investor or just interested in learning more.

Check or money for registration should be made payable to Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and sent prior to event to: 

Slow Money Vermont
c/o Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
3 Pitkin Court, Suite 301E
Montpelier, VT 05602

Registration is available onsite the day of the event, but space is limited so advanced registration is recommended.  

More information is available at the Slow Money Vermont Facebook page: www.facebook.com/slowmoneyvermont 
If you have additional questions, email slowmoneyvt@gmail.com or call (802) 828-1260.

The event is supported, so far, by the Vermont Farm to Plate, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, the Flexible Capital Fund, L3C; Clean Yield Asset Management; Merritt, Merritt & Moulton, Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, Springfield Regional Development Corporation, Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, Vermont Community Loan Fund, and the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program.

###

Slow Money Vermont is an emerging network that aims to inform, inspire and connect individuals, businesses, philanthropists, and investors interested in building a sustainable local and regional food system and to catalyze new investment opportunities in the people, businesses and communities that contribute to a sustainable food economy. Slow Money Vermont is being organized through a task force connected to Vermont Farm to Plate—the statewide initiative to strengthen the food system. Slow Money Vermont aligns with the state’s Farm to Plate goals to increase investments and financial partnerships in food system enterprises. Individuals, businesses, philanthropists, and investors interested in getting involved in Slow Money Vermont can learn more at: www.facebook.com/slowmoneyvermont