Community Loan Fund aids local businesses; Paint recycling comes to Vermont

In the first quarter of 2014, the Vermont Community Loan Fund loaned $907,500 to Vermont’s small businesses, developers of affordable housing and child care programs. The loans have resulted in the creation and preservation of 49 local jobs, plus affordable homes and quality early care and education for Vermont children.

Two projects are in the southern Vermont tier.
Chester House Inn, Chester: The Chester House Inn, a circa 1780 bed and breakfast in downtown Chester, is listed on the National Register of Historic places. Its VCLF loan was used to refinance the mortgage, resulting in the preservation of three jobs. chesterhouseinn.com

D’s Market & Deli, Bennington: D’s Market and Deli, a small market and delicatessen, used a VCLF loan to purchase the building that the business has occupied since starting up two years ago. The loan resulted in the preservation of four jobs.

Bella Farm, Monkton: Bella Farm, an organic farmer and producer of dairy- and nut-free pesto, used VLCF financing to purchase seeds and cover miscellaneous expenses until product sales begin, post-winter. The loan resulted in the preservation of two jobs. bellapesto.com

Bridport Creamery, Bridport: This start-up, artisanal cheesemaker used VCLF funding to purchase cheesemaking equipment and to cover other costs relating to the expansion of its product line. The loan resulted in the preservation of two jobs. bridportcreamery.com

Cedar Sawmill of Vermont, Swanton: CSV buys cedar logs from local area loggers and custom mills them into rough cut lumber, panels, furniture, shavings and sawdust for businesses and consumers. It used a VCLF loan to purchase logs to fulfill purchase orders where deposits are not received. The loan resulted in the preservation of one job. cedarsawmillofvt.com

North Branch Vineyards, Montpelier: North Branch Vineyards used a VCLF loan to cover expenses during its slower sales period. The company buys grapes from several Vermont growers and has increased sales and production steadily since first borrowing from the fund in 2011. The loan led to the preservation of one full-time job. northbranchvineyards.com

Schoolhouse Learning Center, South Burlington: The Schoolhouse Learning Center, a nonprofit, cooperative, licensed child care center and State of Vermont approved elementary school, used a VCLF loan for kitchen renovations which now enable them to serve hot meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Additional renovations also allowed for an expansion of their preschool program. The loan resulted in 99 child care slots and 12 child care jobs created or preserved.

W.R. Vilas, Burlington: W.R. Vilas, housing developers, used VCLF financing to acquire and renovate two blighted properties in Burlington’s Old North End, creating Silversmith Commons housing. Silversmith will include three permanently affordable rental apartments, as well as a large retail space as part of the City of Burlington’s initiative to reinvigorate the area’s commercial corridor. The loan also resulted in the creation of 24 construction jobs.

 Paint recycling programs comes to Vermont

PaintCare, a Washington, D.C.,-based product stewardship organization for the paint industry, and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announce the official approval of the program plan for the responsible recycling of unused and leftover paint in the state. The legislation making the program possible — Act 58 — was signed into law by Gov. Peter Shumlin in 2013. The program will begin May 1.

“Vermont is an environmental leader,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz. “The launch of our paint recycling program offers another easy and responsible way for Vermonters to recycle, while saving money for our municipalities and businesses.”

PaintCare, created by the American Coatings Association representing paint manufacturers, is a non-profit organization tasked with implementing programs in states that pass paint stewardship laws. PaintCare will set up drop-off collection sites for leftover paint that will be permanent and open year-round. The non-profit will also conduct public outreach and education about the program. Vermont is the fourth state to implement a paint stewardship law. PaintCare currently has programs in California, Oregon and Connecticut, and is launching programs in Rhode Island, Minnesota and Maine.

The new law requires that paint manufacturers create and fund an easy-to-use, cost-effective and environmentally responsible program to manage unused or leftover house paint, stains and varnish in Vermont. The programs are funded by a minimal fee applied to the purchase price of paint at retail establishments throughout the state. The recovery fee will range from $0.35 to $1.60 depending on paint container size.

For the convenience of both residents and businesses, most new PaintCare drop-off sites will be at paint stores, which are permanent and open during regular business hours year-round. This will reduce the need for homeowners, paint contractors and others with unwanted paint to rush out to participate in municipal one-day only household hazardous waste collection events in their area. Waste transfer stations and some municipal household hazardous waste locations across Vermont may also serve as drop-off sites.

To view the approved program plan, please visit: www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/HHW/paint.htm. And for more information on PaintCare and paint recycling in Vermont visit www.paintcare.org/vermont.