News

Woodworker using Vermont sources gets $25K Working Lands state grant

By JEFF EPSTEIN
[email protected]
READING, Vt. —The state has awarded a $25,000 business development grant to a local woodworking business, as part of a state agricultural business program.

Rockledge Farm Woodworks, located near both Weathersfield and West Windsor, makes and sells furniture such as tables and chairs, but also smaller “woodenwares,” such as salad bowls, serving boards and lazy susans. The company will use the grant to develop the latter group of products, said Scott Duffy, one of the owners.

The company sources native Vermont hardwoods such as black walnut, cherry and flame birch from a number of small mills in the area, he said.

The business will also provide a matching $25,000, Duffy said, for a total fund of $50,000. He anticipates that he may hire one or two new employees as a result of getting this grant.

Rockledge Farm Woodworks is one of 18 businesses who received part of the $823,000 in grants available this year from the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, a state collaborative effort between the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. 

The family-owned company, which has been in business for nearly 30 years according to Duffy, “received a similar but smaller grant a number of years ago.” 

Another local business was listed as a $23,600 grant recipient, Beaver Meadow Consulting of Windsor. However, the Eagle Times has been unable to confirm any information about this business or its location. Multiple queries to the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative were not answered by press time.

According to information provided by the state, “the Working Lands Enterprise Initiatives supports Vermont entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance to help innovate and grow businesses while creating jobs, building infrastructure, and promoting growth in economies and communities of Vermont’s working landscape.”

Avatar photo

As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.