The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program is a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) that provides one-on-one technical business coaching services to Vermont farms and forest business.

The Intervale Center is one of five organizations that partners with the VHCB Farm & Forest Viability Program to provide these services to business owners in the state.

The Farm & Forest Viability Program is open to Vermont-based farm, food, and forest businesses. Services are geared toward those that gross over $15,000 annually, have 2 years of operating experience, and source most of their products in-state. If this doesn’t describe your business, please reach out about services we can offer.

To apply for the program, we encourage you to reach out to Calley Hastings, Program Manager, to discuss your eligibility and goals before completing your application at c.hastings@vhcb.org.

 
 
 
 

Farm & Forest Viability clients have access to roughly two years of tailored advising with farm, food, and forest business advisors.

 

There are three tracks within the program:

  • Business Planning

  • Transfer / Succession Planning

  • Short-term in-depth planning

Within these tracks, clients may work on:

  • Business Planning

  • Financial Record-keeping
    & Cash Flow Management

  • Marketing & Sales

  • Retirement & Succession Planning

  • Exploring Potential New Products/Services

  • Planning Capital Improvements
    & Accessing Financing

  • Land Access & Land Stewardship

  • Management Coaching