Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Releases Annual Impact Report

Program Marks 13^th Year of Funding for Farm and Forest Businesses

February 9, 2026 | Montpelier, VT - Today, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) annual impact report was released, providing a look at the impacts achieved in 2025. Along with the report, the program is celebrating twelve years of impacts. Since being created by the Vermont legislature in 2012, WLEI has directly invested $19.5 million in 593 farm, food, and forestry projects and leveraged an additional $31.9 million in matching funds.

WLEI is an annual grant program that provides critical investment in farm and forest businesses. During the thirteen years of the program to date, 48% of business grantees added jobs, 77% of business grantees increased production, and 74% of business grantees increased sales. Beyond these numbers are countless stories of people feeding their communities, keeping land in agriculture, and supporting healthy forests with support of WLEI funds.

In 2025, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative funded a wide range of businesses and projects - from a robotic feed pusher to timber framing workshop space to an herb harvester. Businesses of all sizes were funded, the largest of which had annual sales exceeding $5 million with 45 employees, while the smallest grantee had annual sales under $10,000 with 2 employees. WLEI grants in 2025 also supported both beginning and generational businesses. The range of years in operation for business grantees was from 2 years to 80 years. The 2025 grantee businesses are collectively working 1,524 acres across Vermont, employing 146 people, and contributing $12.2 million in sales revenue. In 2025, 26% of funds went to forest businesses, and 74% when to agriculture and maple businesses. With over $5 million requested for about $1 million in funds, the program could fund only about 20% of the 2025 demand.

Find out more 2025 program statistics in the Annual Impact Report here .

"This grant gave us the tools to take control of our growth so we can be more stable as a business and more intentional about supporting the farms we rely on," says Claire Georges of Butterfly Bakery of Vermont, which received a $45,000 to expanded marketing and lead to use of additional 25,000 lbs. of raw products sourced from Vermont farms and hiring of three new employees.

"In Fiscal Year 2025, the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative invested in Vermont's secondary wood product businesses by supporting value added manufacturing, improved efficiency, and expanded market access for Vermont-made products," said Danielle Fitzko, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation. "These investments help sustain skilled craftsmanship, strengthen local supply chains, and ensure forest-based businesses remain competitive and resilient in a changing economy."

"The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative strengthens Vermont's rural economy by supporting the forest and food sectors and improving affordability for those who work the land," said Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts. "For more than a decade, these annual investments have helped businesses grow, create jobs, and deliver high-quality Vermont products."

For more historical information about the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, visit https://workinglands.vermont.gov/ , email [email protected] or call or text 802-917-2637.

Contact:

Clare Salerno (she/her) | Program Coordinator, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative | 802-917-2637 (call or text)

https://workinglands.vermont.gov/