Purpose

The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund believes that the State of Vermont can become a center for sustainable development and entrepreneurial innovation. 

VSJF helps to develop and support growing enterprises and business networks within natural resource based sectors through grant-making and targeted technical assistance.  We do this by working with entrepreneurs and consumers to develop both the supply of and demand for goods and services that are sustainable, create quality jobs, and build on Vermont’s entrepreneurial heritage. 

VSJF’s unique status as a quasi-governmental nonprofit organization gives us access to state General Fund support, as well as other federal, state, and foundation resources. Since 1997, the VSJF has made grants of over $2.7 million to 150 recipients—who utilized
these funds to leverage an additional $11.8 million to implement their projects, test their ideas, and assemble the building blocks of a green economy. VSJF grants have benefited over 8,800 businesses and created or retained at least 800 jobs. Our technical assistance programs have assisted 15 Peer to Peer Collaborative clients (representing 384 employees), 132 Business Coach clients and hundreds of other businesses who have sought some form of assistance over the past 10 years.

What's in a Name?

Jobs or the environment? The early 1990s were characterized by a debate pitting environmental protection against economic development. Many said it was one or the other, that both could not exist at the same time. But in 1995, a group of successful entrepreneurs within Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility saw the need to transcend this divide. Sustainable development was a new idea at the time and it provided the group with a theme, a vision, and goals to work toward: Vermont could meet the economic needs of its citizens—without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs—by greening its economy, promoting social justice and equity, and practicing stewardship of its natural environment.

This group, which called themselves the Sustainable Jobs Coalition, began crafting legislation to launch an organization that could provide early stage funding and technical assistance to entrepreneurs, businesses, farmers, networks and others interested in developing a green economy. With bi-partisan support from the Vermont Legislature, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund was created in 1995. The name of the organization reflects the dual goals of accelerating the development of new markets for sustainably produced goods and investing in Vermont’s future.

In VSJF's enabling legislation (VSA, Title 10, Chapter 15A, no.326 – 328), the Legislature identified "creating quality jobs and conserving and protecting Vermont's social and natural environments" as primary means of maintaining "economic vitality and the quality of life of Vermont." They also stressed positioning the state as a sustainable development educational center as an important goal.

According to the enabling legislation, the goal of creating quality jobs depends on providing support for the start-up and expansion of micro and small businesses, as well as nurturing businesses in growing sectors (environmental technologies, renewable energy, specialty foods, wood products, sustainable agriculture, etc.) of the national and international economy. Several tools were identified to accomplish these goals, including:

VSJF initially attempted to nurture and promote sustainable businesses through grants for business network building.  We looked for ways to help individual businesses improve their economic performance through greater efficiencies, smarter marketing, sound community relationships, and the practice of sustainable use of resources that makes their community a safe and healthy place to live.

As we began to leverage funds from outside sources, we started to diversify and experiment, first with market development activities through the Cornerstone Project, and then with community development activities. 

Over the past decade, VSJF has acted as a catalyst, leveraging good ideas, technical know-how, and financial resources to propel innovation in sustainable development, especially in the realms of organic agriculture and local food systems, sustainable forestry and biofuels. VSJF takes the long-view, recognizing that supporting risky projects today will help Vermont avoid even bigger risks down the road. As the realities of climate change and peak oil ripple around the world, VSJF and its partners are uniquely situated to lead the way to a post-carbon Vermont and take advantage of the market opportunities
that the green economy creates.

 

Photo credit: Wayne Fawbush.

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