Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

What Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund does

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 to accelerate sustainable economic development across Vermont's agriculture, food systems, energy, forest products, waste management, and environmental technology sectors. Headquartered in Montpelier, VT with approximately 15 staff, the organization operates as a backbone coordinator for multiple statewide and regional networks, most notably the Farm to Plate Network (300+ partner organizations across Vermont), the DeltaClimeVT Energy Business Accelerator, the Forest Business Accelerator, and the Tools of the Trade program for energy contractors. VSJF was twice tasked by the Vermont Legislature (2009, 2019) with creating and implementing 10-year strategic plans for Vermont's food system, giving it quasi-statutory authority over state food system planning.

VSJF's core offerings span business management coaching (12-18 month deep-dive engagements at $6,000-$20,000), four-month accelerator programs for climate and forest startups, nine-month business training for weatherization contractors, network coordination across sectors, and strategic planning support for state and regional initiatives. The organization does not develop proprietary technology but functions as an economic intermediator, connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, capital partners, supply chain participants, and utility pilot project opportunities. Notable operational outcomes include doubling Vermont's local food sales from 5% to 10% of total ($481 million annually by 2022), creating 291 net new farm and food businesses (2011-2023), coaching 178 businesses (2005-2025), supporting 75 DeltaClimeVT cohort companies from 21 states and 5 Canadian provinces, and facilitating 22 energy pilot projects with Vermont utilities.

The organization is funded primarily through state and federal grants (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, USDA, U.S. SBA, Efficiency Vermont, Vermont Gas Systems), foundation and corporate contributions, and participant fees for its coaching and accelerator programs. Recent strategic moves include the 2026 rebrand of Vermont Prosperity Project to Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont (WEAV), the 2025-2026 re-launch of the Forest Business Accelerator in collaboration with Vermont State University, and the 10th cohort of DeltaClimeVT Energy Business Accelerator in 2026.

Name

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Legal name

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Website

https://vsjf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 that delivers business coaching, accelerator programs, and statewide network coordination to sustainable entrepreneurs across Vermont's agriculture, food, energy, and forest sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Economic Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

Keywords

• Sustainable economic development
• Business coaching services
• Agriculture and food systems
• Clean energy accelerator
• Forest products innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: VSJF receives funding from state, federal, foundation, and corporate sources to advance shared goals for Vermont's economy. Major funders include Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and various federal programs.
2. Program Fees: Business coaching services are provided at subsidized rates ($6,000-$10,000) or full cost ($8,000-$20,000) for Vermont-based entrepreneurs. Tools of the Trade program charges $1,000 participation fee (valued at $7,000).
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting Vermont's sustainable economy development through the Discovery Fund and general support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is a nonprofit economic development organization that provides business assistance, supply chain coordination, network development, and strategic planning services to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Vermont's sustainable agriculture, food systems, forest products, renewable energy, waste management, and environmental technology sectors. Its offerings include two nationally-recognized business accelerator programs (DeltaClimeVT Energy and Forest Business Accelerator), structured business management coaching (12-18 months), a Tools of the Trade training program for energy contractors, Business Sense training modules, and the 300+ partner Farm to Plate Network.

Product overview

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is a nonprofit economic development organization that offers a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include two accelerator programs (DeltaClimeVT Energy and Forest Business Accelerator), business management coaching services, the Tools of the Trade training program for energy professionals, Business Sense training modules, and the Farm to Plate Network. These programs work together through supply chain coordination, network development, and strategic planning to accelerate sustainable economic development across Vermont's agriculture, energy, forest, waste management, and environmental technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Farm to Plate Network: Statewide network working to strengthen Vermont's food system through strategic coordination of farms, food businesses, nonprofits, funders, educators, and government agencies.
• DeltaClimeVT Energy Business Accelerator
• Forest Business Accelerator
• Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont (WEAV)
• Tools of the Trade
• Business Sense

Products and services

• DeltaClimeVT Energy Business Accelerator A four-month accelerator program for startup and seed-stage companies developing climate economy innovations. Uses the ecosVC Lens of the Market ACCELERATED curriculum to refine business models, connect with mentors, prepare for investment, and pilot with utility partners.
• Forest Business Accelerator A four-month accelerator supporting innovative forest and wood industry startups with comprehensive commercialization curriculum and connections to industry experts, customers, suppliers, partners, and investors.
• Business Management Coaching Tailored business management coaching for Vermont entrepreneurs offering deep dive coaching (12-18 months), short-term intensive coaching (3-4 months), and small group coaching to help businesses grow and succeed.
• Tools of the Trade A nine-month in-person business training program for weatherization contractors and clean energy professionals designed to improve executive business skills, enhance core operations, expand workforce capacity, and promote work-life balance.
• Business Sense A six-module training series providing practical tools and advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners covering financials, operations, sales and marketing, human resources, leadership, and governance.
• Farm to Plate Network A statewide network bringing together farms, food businesses, nonprofits, funders, educators, and government agencies to drive coordinated action to strengthen Vermont's food system.
• Supply Chain Coordination Cross-sector collaboration services that help Vermont businesses grow by coordinating supply chains connecting producers, service providers, and capital partners to remove bottlenecks and open new markets.
• Network Development Coordination of statewide and regional networks using proven frameworks including Collective Impact, Two Loops Model, and Doughnut Economics.
• Strategic Planning Adaptive, action-oriented planning services to guide sustainable development across industries in Vermont.

Quantifiable outcome

• 260 jobs created or retained in 2025 through coaching services
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Vermont Food Security CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Farm to Plate is a founding member of the Vermont Food Security Coalition, working collectively to strengthen statewide food access and advance food security policy.
• Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont (WEAV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Formerly Vermont Prosperity Project, WEAV is a network of partner organizations including VSJF, UVM's Gund Institute, and others focused on redefining prosperity by centering social and ecological wellbeing.
• Energy Action NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011VSJF is a founding member of the Energy Action Network, playing a vital role in shaping Vermont's clean energy future through this collaboration of energy stakeholders.
• Vermont Legislature / Vermont Farm to Plate Investment ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009In 2009, the Vermont Legislature created the Vermont Farm to Plate Investment Program and tasked VSJF with creating a 10-year strategic plan and working toward intended outcomes for Vermont's food system.
• UVM Spatial Analysis LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF partners with UVM Spatial Analysis Lab on supply chain mapping projects for Vermont's food distribution routes.
• UVM Leahy Institute for Rural PartnershipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Vermont Food Hub Collaborative Supply Chain Mapping project.
• UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting forest economy workforce development and education.
• ecosVCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeltaClimeVT and Forest Business Accelerators use the ecosVC Lens of the Market ACCELERATED curriculum to help participants craft compelling business cases.
• Vermont State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2025, VSJF re-launched the Forest Business Accelerator in collaboration with Vermont State University to provide forest business startups with commercialization curriculum.
• Burlington Electric DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey utility partner in DeltaClimeVT accelerator, providing pilot project opportunities and mentor connections for clean energy startups.
• Efficiency VermontmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and program partner for Tools of the Trade business coaching program for weatherization and energy contractors.
• Vermont Gas SystemsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Tools of the Trade program, supporting business development for energy professionals.
• Northern Forest CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-state partner for expanding markets, sharing research, and accelerating natural fiber-based technologies across the Northern Forest region.
• Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF assisted with Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap development and now leads a working group on Research, Innovation and Technology implementation.
• Working Lands Enterprise FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF serves on the Working Lands Enterprise Fund board, aligning state priorities for agricultural and forest sector development.
• Sodexo Vermont First Advisory CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF serves on advisory committee for Sodexo's Vermont First program supporting local food procurement.
• Vermont Climate Council - Agriculture & Ecosystems SubcommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF participates in state climate planning through Farm to Plate strategic alignment.
• WoodWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting mass timber construction and wood utilization education in Vermont.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Efficiency Vermont: Vermont's statewide energy efficiency utility that partners with VSJF on the Tools of the Trade program. Both organizations serve Vermont's sustainable economy from complementary angles (energy efficiency vs. business acceleration), and both receive funding from Vermont state energy sources.
• Vermont Community Foundation: Vermont's largest community foundation providing grants to Vermont nonprofits. Ellen Kahler served on VCF's board from 2001-2009, indicating organizational overlap with VSJF. Both play coordinating and grantmaking roles in Vermont's sustainable economy.
• Vermont Land Trust: Vermont-based conservation organization focused on land stewardship and farm viability. VLT and VSJF collaborate on rural economic development in Vermont and both serve as backbone organizations for Vermont's working lands economy.
• Working Lands Enterprise Fund: Vermont state program providing grants to agriculture and forest sector businesses, on whose board VSJF's Executive Director serves. Both organizations channel state funding into Vermont's working lands economy and support overlapping entrepreneur cohorts.

Direct peers

• Flexible Capital Fund, L3C: Vermont-based impact investment fund providing debt and equity to Vermont food, farm, and forest businesses. Directly comparable as a sustainable-economy-focused capital provider in Vermont; VSJF just received an M&T Charitable Foundation grant to provide coaching for Flexible Capital Fund's portfolio companies.
• Northern Forest Center: Regional organization working to strengthen the forest economy across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Both VSJF and Northern Forest Center coordinate forest-based economic development with overlapping geographies, partner lists, and program models (workforce, supply chain, innovation).
• Energy Action Network: Vermont-based network coordinating energy stakeholders to advance Vermont's clean energy goals. VSJF is a founding member and runs DeltaClimeVT; EAN provides broader energy planning infrastructure. They share policy influence and overlapping partner organizations.
• Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia: Regional nonprofit that supports local sustainable businesses through networking, education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable business model: a regional nonprofit building sustainable-economy networks and providing business assistance to entrepreneurs in a defined geography.

Broad incumbents

• Clean Energy States Alliance: National nonprofit coalition of state clean energy agencies and organizations. CESA operates at a broader national scale than VSJF's state-focused DeltaClimeVT but shares the accelerator-and-pilot-program model for clean energy startups and policymakers.

Others

• Rooted in Vermont: Program of the Farm to Plate Network at VSJF promoting local food consumption among Vermonters. Functions as a consumer-facing extension of VSJF's food system work, sharing staff, branding, and partner network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/VTSustainableJobsFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/VermontSustainableJobsFund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-sustainable-jobs-fund-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund