Four Upper Valley businesses are among 34 agriculture and forestry companies throughout the state to receive grants from Vermont’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative’s Working Lands Enterprise Board.
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is run by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Three of the Upper Valley businesses received business enhancement grants, which “support farm, forest, and food businesses using Vermont-grown products with market development, infrastructure, equipment costs, and workforce development to advance their businesses,” according to a March 11 news release.
Sheehan and Sons Lumber in Perkinsville received $34,890 to upgrade its lumber carriage drive, which is used to mill logs.
Yeoman Joinery, a timber frame company in Barnard received $50,000 to purchase a piece of construction equipment called a skid steer.
Good Hands Farm in Windsor received $13,406 to improve its cheese cave “for cheese quality, expanded production (and) climate resiliency,” according to the release.
One Upper Valley business — South Woodstock-based Vermont Farmstead Cheese — received a $4,079 trade show assistance grant, which goes toward supporting “agricultural, food, and forestry businesses with exhibiting and selling their products at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers,” according to the release.