The EDC is seeking funding for a part-time Administrator/Coordinator. This position has been funded since 2017 (?) on a contracted basis, as the EDC is the only Town-appointed permanent commission without support from the municipal staff. The Administrator/Coordinator is responsible for preparing for EDC meetings (minutes, postings, distribution of materials), maintaining the EDC accounts and coordinating approvals for payments, overseeing selected EDC programs (e.g. the Empty Storefront program), and overseeing the administrative aspects of the EDC's grant program.

The role has in the past been expanded beyond administrative tasks to be a Coordinator position, with responsibilities for engaging with the public, leading various processes, preparing grants, working with grant applicants and other interested parties to advance ideas and proposals that further economic and community development, and to take on ad hoc initiatives as needed.

Depending on the applicants the EDC identifies over the next several months, the budget for this position could be expanded to take into account this broader role.

The EDC is seeking $10,000 to spend on advertising for September through December to test the new capabilities of the marketing platform and inform us for how to get the best return on marketing activities in 2023 and beyond.

The Digital Media Coordinator is a critical element of the marketing program for Woodstock, responsible for all social media activity, blogging, website updates and email campaigns. This grant would continue funding the position through the end of 2022. (Note: This is the fourth or fifth year the EDC has funded this key position. The existing funding for prior years is sufficient to fund this position through the end of March, 2022; the grant request is to fund the remainder of the calendar year).

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

Project includes:
- New stair system on back of building to replace obsolete fire escape
- Fire suppression sprinkler system
- New roof (energy efficient)
- New sewer and water main
- 3rd floor yoga studio

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

Application is being made to turn premises into a B&B. Converting from 1 1/2 baths to 5 full baths. There will be 3 B&B suites.

The requested grant would fund the pilot year of the Woodstock VT Podcast. A podcast featuring stories behind businesses, attractions and events in Woodstock and would serve as both a promotional vehicle and an information hub. Podcasts have a unique ability to tell engaging stories, build trust and build relationships.

I have been working with TED to bring a TEDx conference to our area.
TED conferences are a globally recognized brand that specializes in collaborating with communities to create events which then live on well beyond each community through TED’s international network. Placing a TEDx within our community offers an opportunity to showcase our local talent in various fields, as well as bring renown speakers to our area.
This is a unique moment of growth in so many communities around the world. Woodstock, with its history in conservationism and its reputation as one of the most beautiful small towns, is an ideal place to forge conversations about creating peaceful communities, innovation in business / farming/technology and living a more sustainable life.
The event will take place over a weekend, with several side events and ways to participate. There will be an opening evening event, a full day of TED Talks. There will also be an TEDx “Innovators Showcase” which will be a curated event that will take place all weekend long and be open to the public.
There have been TEDx in the northern part of the state in Burlington and Stowe. This TEDx in Woodstock will service the South-Central Vermont area and we look to grow it year upon year to be a formidable event of ideas and community goodwill.

To improve and make the best use of our building's retail/restaurant space we are seeking assistance to do some renovations. It was a viable space for over 38 years. We are very aware that Woodstock is in need and has been missing restaurant choices in the Village downtown area. Having our building's retail spaces left empty is not sustainable for bringing business into Woodstock. We are in need of financial help to bring back a business in order to create more jobs for Woodstock.

The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates and staffs the Woodstock Welcome from 9AM until 5 PM, 363 days a year. Obviously, this means there are no facilities available for locals and visitors if they are out for an after-dinner stroll, ice cream or shopping. We are proposing that the EDC fund, on a 1 year trial basis, expanded hours for the Welcome Center to stay open until 8PM. We are proposing that from July 1st, through October 20th and the weeks of Wassail through December 23 that the Welcome Center stay open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday until 8PM. This additional 18 weeks will cost $3610.

Every Summer and fall the town of Woodstock receives thousands of visitors who stop here via motor coach tours. Early in the season you will see perhaps one or two tour groups walking through the village. As we progress to foliage season, there may be up to 25 buses daily. We learned that most tour operators don’t know anything about Woodstock. They just know that it is a pretty place and one of the many stops in New England.
A visitor greeter will meet the bus, make sure they know how to get to the restrooms, the covered bridge; where they can grab something to eat and maybe take a walk to view some Revere Bells. If pre-arranged a Visitor Greeter may meet the bus and hop on and tell them about some of the historical facts about the area, such as the terminus for the train, Hiram Powell or The Woodstock Inn.
The Chamber will reach out to tour operator to get the approximate time and date of in-coming buses. The Greeters will be recruited, trained and assigned days of the week by the Chamber. They will be paid by the Chamber of Commerce through this proposed grant. This will be a trial project and will be assessed late in October 2022.

We are seeking a grant to enhance the output of Soulfully Good's Kitchen by installing an improved ventilation / hood system to enable us to expand available cooking options. We are currently limited to induction only / baking as we can't use direct heat methods without a hood. This would enable us to grill and saute, etc. expanding our food output and options. We would install two grab and go coolers to provide additional prepared food options during busy times. Having both increased cooking and merchandising options would better enable us to serve both the residents of and visitors to Woodstock.

Interested in building a large scrape community outdoor pizza garden with outdoor seating and to have music as well.

In 1900, Woodstock had its own integrated baseball team: The Woodstock “Invincibles” - 47 years before Jackie Robinson ever stepped foot onto a Major League field. The “Invincibles'' home was Vail Field. We are a group of parents looking to revitalize that very space back to its former glory for all to enjoy. In light of the recent improvements to the tennis and basketball courts, we would like to propose additional enhancements to the baseball field. Specifically: new fencing, landscape revitalization (new grass, infield dirt, etc.), historically appropriate dugouts, scoreboard and stands for spectators and perhaps temporary and removable fencing and foul poles during the active baseball season that would easily be removed for other sporting events. An additional outbuilding for storage/concessions we feel could be of value as well. A well manicured baseball field is inviting to all visitors and residents and demonstrates a town’s commitment to their kids' recreational choices.

Presently the field suffers from a dilapidated fence, no dugouts or spectator seating, and gravel dirt which is unsafe for young players. Our field needs a little love to be restored back to the inclusive, vibrant space it once was. We are seeking grant funds to kick-start the project and will seek private funding as well as funds from the Woodstock Rec Department to cover any additional costs. All proposed improvements would be done in full transparency and agreement with the Village/Town along with the Woodstock Recreation Department.

I will be requesting funds to launch a local mission-driven series of live entertainment events. The mission is to provide live entertainment events in the Village of Woodstock and surrounding area that expand upon (but do not compete with) the offerings of local nonprofit organizations while taking advantage of underutilized spaces (e.g., the backyard of the History Center). Forms of entertainment include but are not limited to music, comedy, talks/lectures and dance.

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

The purpose of this grant is to restore high-speed public wifi service to the core downtown areas, from the hardware store on the East End to the Rec Center on the western edge of the Village. The original plans for Wireless Woodstock were partially implemented but the full rollout of the technology was intended to proceed in three phases, and these were not completed. Today, while a handful of hotspots do exist Wireless Woodstock is not providing significant wifi coverage to the Village.

It should be noted that since the inception of Wireless Woodstock cell phone service has expanded dramatically - both in terms of areas covered and data speeds - and as a result providing a public wifi service may be less important to visitors and residents than it was seven or eight years ago when Wireless Woodstock first came onto the scene. We will attempt to determine if there is still demand for public wifi, and if so whether or not meeting this demand will drive economic and community development, before submitting a final application to the EDC at the end of February.

If demand still exists we hope to engage with the High School to provide an employment and educational opportunity for students to act as network operators, and our grant request will include a small set-aside for funding this educational initiative for the first three years.

The technical specs for a network rollout will be developed for the final application, but we anticipate the funding requirements would be in the range of $25,000 to $35,000.

We are requesting funding to support the start-up of a new outdoor business venture in Woodstock. As residents of Woodstock, our goal is to create opportunities for people of all skill levels to experience the beauty of local public and preserved lands by organizing guided backcountry excursions. We will provide individuals with new ways of enjoying outdoor adventures and ideally encouraging confidence in outdoor pursuits, a love of our community, and future visits to the area.

We look forward to not only supporting the local tourism economy, but through our mission-driven purpose of providing physical outdoor experiences that promote inner growth, we hope to build a strong, healthy local community. Research supports the mental health benefits of spending time in nature and the resilience that arises from pushing past perceived limits in outdoor settings.
Our business would bridge a current gap in Woodstock outdoor recreation offerings in a few key ways. First, we would supplement resort pursuits by accessing backcountry trails. We would additionally provide opportunities that will respond to increased demand for safe outdoor social gatherings as a result of the pandemic. Moreover, Phase I of this program would employ local part-time guides and the eventual ability to hire full-time program staff in Phase II of the business plan, thus growing jobs in the community.

A grant to organize and establish a weekend conference entitled Appalachian Trail Days. The conference would promote local, national and international awareness and hiking activities on the Appalachian Trail System (and by extension, local hiking trails such as Mt. Peg and Mt. Tom).

For almost 30 years, (since 1992) I have operated a free hostel for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. With an average count of 550-650 hikers per season (June through September) more than 12,000 hikers have stayed here, with an ancillary benefit of tens to thousands of dollars to Woodstock and the community. It has long been my goal to have a weekend conference in Woodstock, entitled Appalachian Trail Days. The conference would be supported (largely paid for) by the hiking industry and would benefit local businesses, hotels and restaurants, as well as promoting hiking and similar outdoor activities in the area. (Swimming. Biking. Kayaking. Camping. Etc.)

Woodstock Nursery School (WNS) has been welcoming local families for the past 70 years. WNS supports the education of our community’s youngest learners allowing families to live and work in the Village and surrounding areas. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our enrollment has dropped in half creating a large deficit in our income. Woodstock Nursery School it’s asking for 20,000$ to offer greater benefits to our teachers as they work harder than ever before to keep our children safe and to help cover the costs of our enrollment deficit to ensure WNS continues to be a viable and stable part of our community.

We are currently operating our retail business as a to go only coffee shop out of 52 Pleasant St. We are seeking funds to help fit up the building with plumbing and a restroom and build a permanent coffee bar for our equipment. We will then be able to better serve the people of Woodstock and create a fun environment for patrons to safely gather and enjoy all that Woodstock has to offer.

The Woodstock EDC is endeavoring to continue with enhancing the Street Scape in the Village Business District. We would like to replace three trees on Central Street that were removed due to disease. We would also like to add 5 more beaches in the Village downtown area. The new benches have been well used by both visitors and locals alike.

Wassail Weekend is in it’s 38th year. It continues to grow and attract visitors from all over the country. Guests make reservation now for the following year. It is a wonderful, collaborative celebration for the Woodstock Area. The Chamber coordinates with the Library, Artistree, Pentangles, high School groups, High Horses Therapeutic Riding and more. In 2021 the Chamber offered wagon rides throughout the Village on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30-1pm. These were well received. I would like to expand the day to Friday from 11-2PM. Phil Warren is well know in the area. His team is aware of the traffic and his wagon holds at least 10 people. His wife is in period costume and he wears a top hat, scarf and period coat.
The Chamber also contracted with Butler’s Bus to run two small buses as a shuttle service from the Village to the High School parking lot. This has worked well and help alleviate traffic problems on River Street and throughout the village. The buses run from 9:30AM until 5PM.

The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce has been working with the High School horticultural program to create hanging baskets to enhance the beautification of the village since 2009. The Chamber raises the funds to buy the flowers from the WUHS and then contracts with an individual to water, fertilize and dead-head the baskets from May 25-October 13th. We are requesting funds to pay for the maintenance of the baskets for 2022.
Also, The Chamber has worked with Timber Tenders and Chippers to help light the village for the Holiday Season. The Chamber is requesting funds to purchase the lights from our local hardware store. The Chamber will continue to coordinate with our local arborists to get the lights hung before Thanksgiving.

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

Create a new website that provides easy access to ALL of the outdoor activities available within a 20-mile radius of Woodstock. There would be no requirement that an organization or business would need to be a Chamber of Commerce member or located within Woodstock to get coverage on the website.

Woodstock (and surrounding towns) is extremely rich in outdoor activities but there is no place that a resident or visitor can go to that contains the necessary information to make plans. One of the key questions everyone asks (resident or visitor) is "what do I want to do today"? Regardless of the season, this website would provide all of the information needed about available outdoor options.....location/directions, hours of operation, cost information, trail maps and other important facts, etc. With all of this easily available, people could make more informed decisions to enjoy the richness of the Woodstock area.

*********************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*********************************************************************************************

This grant would go towards marketing and finding a place to host a Women Artisans of Vermont Market one weekend per year. This would be a juried all handmade show focused on female artisans from Vermont. There is a very successful similar show that takes place in Burlington each year, but it would be nice to have something in central vermont.

A Revolving Loan Fund would enable the EDC to make low cost or no cost loans to applicants to further EDC objectives. In some circumstances (particularly when the recipient is a for-profit entity) loans, rather than outright grants, may be a better use of public funds while achieving similar economic development objectives. Several towns in Vermont have such a loan fund, e.g, Hartford, Bristol, Brattleboro, Burlington.

The loan application process would require in-depth examination examination by a committee, and then legal documentation and financial agreements. Subsequently the loan would need to be managed on an on-going basis. Hartford has an arrangement with GMEDC to be their loan administrator, and it is likely that GMEDC could be the EDC loan administrator for Woodstock as well.

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

It is very much our desire to bring donuts, drip coffee and light bites to the Woodstock business district. We look forward to serving the vibrant local community as well as tourists. In order for this to happen, we need a space with a commercial kitchen that has a hood. Such a space does not currently exist, unfortunately.

We are in process of designing a commercial kitchen to put into an existing space that is a blank box. It has become clear that a commercial kitchen is quite expensive, the hood/exhaust system being the largest ticket item. Any grant money received would be put into the equiptment needed for said kitchen. This kitchen would remain and be a part of Woodstock for future restaurants to set up shop and call home.

Annual Community Celebration of Independence Day ends with fireworks display o the grounds at the Union High / Middle School.

One of the EDC's objectives is to improve the physical appearance of the Village to provide a more enjoyable experience for residents and visitors. Unfortunately, the exterior facades of several buildings are so dilapidated as to be quite noticeable, and are one of the more frequent complaints EDC members hear when residents and visitors discuss the Village experience.

Recognizing the importance to economic development of building facades in downtown environments, the State of Vermont has established financial incentives for building owners to make needed improvements. This grant would help establish an additional incentive for owners of buildings in the downtown Village area. To receive funding from the EDC a building owner would need to be eligible for and submit a proper application for (though not necessarily receive) a State grant. The Woodstock incentive would match the State grant up to a maximum award per building of $25,000.

Other criteria might be attached to the Woodstock incentive - e.g. an agreement to maintain the facade in good condition for 10 years, or an agreement to maintain retail occupancy (if a retail location) at 90% over ten years.

We are seeking $75,000 to fund a pilot program for 2022. If the program is successful - meaning that multiple building facades are improved - the EDC might consider extending the program in future years, or on occasion as the situation warrants.

Applications to receive the financial incentive would be available for 24 months following the establishment of the Incentive Program, at which point any remaining funding would be returned to the unencumbered balance.

The grant would fund a person, ideally, a professional grant writer to help Woodstock area residents and business owners find and apply for grant funding. There are funds available for everything imaginable, but most people do not know where to look or how best to apply and write. grant request.

The Grant Request: $30,000 for year 1 and subsequent years if successful. The thought would be to have the person available on average 10 hours a week.

Seeking the entire collected 1% tax funds in their entirety and remit them to the taxpayers on a pro-rated basis

I’m working on a photography exhibit which will attract visitors to come to the area and increase the tourism. The exhibit will focus on Vermont Female Farmers. The goal is to bring awareness to the farming industry and the females within the farming community. This will also provide business to local printers, art framers, local galleries and so for. That said the reason for this grant is to use it for the travels, printing of the images, framing them sand any rental space needed to display the art. The long term goal is to take this exhibit through different galleries and potentially outside Vermont. Lastly the images will be used for a coffee table book.

The EDC Housing Working Group’s objective is to expand housing supply for the local workforce to grow our local economy. This is one of two initiatives in 2022 and one of three grant applications.

Incentivise qualified homeowners to build & lease Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
Provide homeowner assistance with three grants of $10,000 to pay for the initial costs of developing an ADU

Project Budget $30,000

The EDC Housing Working Group’s objective is to expand housing supply for the local workforce to grow our local economy. This is one of two initiatives in 2022 and one of three grant applications.

Rental Incentive Pilot Program: Provide financial incentives for short term rental property owners or second home owners to convert smaller properties, that would be appropriate for the local workforce, to long term rentals
For the 2022 Pilot Program, Woodstock EDC will issue up to five grants (amounts still being determined but we expect the average to be in the range of $7,000)
Incentive levels will be dependant on length of participation (1 year, 2 years, 3 years)
Legal agreement with participants to ensure compliance
Project Budget $35,000

The EDC Housing Working Group’s objective is to expand housing supply for the local workforce to grow our local economy. We are proposing two housing initiatives in 2022 and are submitting three grant pre-applications.

EDC Housing Group Support: To provide an expert advisor to support two new EDC housing initiatives and continue to support the Thompson Center’s Homeshare initiative.

The expert advisor will
- Promote three housing initiatives - the Rental Incentive Pilot Program, the ADU Program and the Homeshare Program - and find eligible homeowners
- Work with qualified homeowners to execute the Rental Incentive Pilot Program
- Provide expert assistance to homeowners who are considering building and leasing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) during the exploratory, feasibility, permitting or operating stages

This position would be a contract role, reporting to the EDC. Expected hours per week may vary, with 10 expected on average.

The Woodstock Boys and Girls Varsity Hockey teams have always been responsible for paying all of the ice fees associated with having a Varsity hockey team at the WUHS. This is an unusual arrangement, as with most high school hockey teams, the cost of playing the sport is funded by budgeting done by the school district. In Woodstock, the ice fees have always been paid by what has been termed a "donation" by parents of about $800-$900/player, and then fundraising. The billing has been done through Woodstock Youth Hockey Association, which has also contributed to the cost of Varsity ice through their fundraising efforts in the form of tournaments. This year, due to Covid and the limits on spectators and fundraising associated with the pandemic, we find ourselves with a $40,000 ice fee, and a cost per player of closer to $1400. As you can imagine, this is a real hardship for many of our families. We believe that the Union Arena and the tournaments hosted by both the Arena and the Woodstock Youth Hockey Association, made up of many of the same parents who now have varsity players, is an addition to our local economy. The tournaments have brought in 100's of hockey players and their families, who stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our retail establishments. Our hope is that the EDC will understand that without sufficient funds to pay for the varsity ice, it impacts the youth hockey program and that, in turn, impacts the Union Arena and this great source of income for our local businesses. The team is busy planning and hosting fundraisers, and have done two on the Green to support the local community (serving food during Leaf season on days when none of the local restaurants were open and doing coffee/cocoa this weekend for Wassail)

Entrepreneurship Challenge
Goal: To encourage, through a competition and significant funding, the establishment of a new innovative business, or significant reinvention of existing business, to be located in Woodstock. Funding to be $25,00 to $30,000 with $15,000 to $20,000 to be in private donations and $10,000 in a grant from the EDC. EDC grant to be conditioned on receipt of confirmation of the private funding.
Some criteria
1. Potential for job creation
2. Serves a gap in the current market
3. Possible use of existing downtown rental space or other existing commercial property
4. Applicants must show a need and market for product or service; must show revenue projections that exceed owners’ salaries after 3 years; show potential for reinvestment in business; provide a complete business plan that is no less than 10 nor more than 15 pages including 3 years projected financials (and 3 year prior financial history if an existing business); and a detailed statement as to when funds will be needed and for what purpose. If requested, applicants will be assisted in completing an acceptable business plan.
5. Competition is open to anyone, but business must be established in Woodstock
6. Preliminary applications to be reviewed by EDC or EDC “Attracting New Business” working group plus 1-2 residents familiar with business plans. Ultimate winner(s)to be determined by 2/3rds vote of a panel of judges tentatively to be composed of: EDC member(s); local professionals well versed in business plans; a commercial real estate broker; and a member of Woodstock Town selectboard.
7. Judges will reserve right to divide the award among multiple applicants and, also, if no applicant meets the criteria, to decline to grant award to anyone.
8. The judges will be assisted by a detailed rubric to be developed by the working group and to be agreed upon in advance with those providing private funding.
9. Finalists will make a public presentation of their proposal prior to decision of the judges

Established in 2020, Too Tired Press is an independent photography book press located in Woodstock, VT. Too Tired Press focuses on fostering collaborative and equitable relationships between artists and publishing. We specialize in limited edition photo books, zines, and art prints.

The publishing model of Too Tired Press comes as a response to traditional art book publishing where it is expected that the artist outlays thousands of dollars upfront just to get their project off the ground - we focus on transparency about the cost of publishing a photo book, work with artists to match them with printers that fit their budgetary needs, offer pre-sales to help take lessen the financial burden of publishing, all while splitting the sales of the books equally. Artists who publish with Too Tired Press gain access to our experience with publishing, design, sequencing, as well as retaining the rights to their work during the duration of their contract. We believe in using our platform and experience as a way to support artists while bringing their projects to life as a physical object. Our grant request would be use to fully fund publishing projects by artists from marginalized communities - this would allow artists who would not traditionally be able to afford publishing to publish and distribute their work through TTP.

Hoping to create a backyard oasis for children’s storytelling, flower identification, tea parties and also fairy flower house making.

This would be for children and grown-ups alike. A chance to sit with community in a peaceful relaxing oasis among all the flowers, while crafting, having tea and talking flowers!

Marketing as well as extensive employee training is crucial for our business at this moment. The funds would allow us to grow. We are looking for support in order to continue to serve our community and visitors.

*******************************************************************************************
NOTE: THIS PRE-APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT
*******************************************************************************************

I seek a $60,000 revolving loan to be repaid in 24 months for the installation of a sprinkler system throughout 19-21 Central St. (former pharmacy). The purpose of sprinklering is to preserve this beautiful old structure and the buildings that surround it. It will also make it easier to rent to long-term food/retail lessees. Because of the amount of work I have to do on the building, which is considerable, getting this loan will help me do it faster. I want to do things right but it's hard to have all of the money upfront.

Enhance the offerings of food and beverage to woodstock and to add employment for locals. I'm doing a complete renovation of the building inside and out. I plan to hire 6-7 employees. I would like to have $20,000 to go towards employees salaries to get me off the ground. This will allow me to pay employees a sustainable wage and allow my business to get off the ground.

Bookstock is coming back with a vision for the Town of Woodstock to be a cultural magnet in Vermont and Northern New England. We presented increasingly rich annual literary festivals 2009-2019, then went into pandemic-related hibernation in 2020-2021. It is reopening live on June 24-26, 2022. Previously Bookstock was entirely volunteer-run and informal in organization. It has completely re-organized as a formal entity, tax exempt status pending, and is strengthening its quality of programming and marketing. It seeks to become a leading go-to event for persons in and out of state and to brand Woodstock as a cultural hub. It is engaging one or two part time staff December 2021 – July 2022 to manage the festival, and is upgrading its internet presence throughout the United States. It will step up its private sector fund raising.

We have spent much of 2021 exploring how to put on such an ambitious event in such a small town. We are seeking funding for the staff, of $20,000, and an additional $5,000 for building internet capability, all to be spent January – July 2022. To some extent, these are one-time capacity-building investments. Coverage of expenses in the future we hope to cover by increased private contributions; however, we may come to the EDC for some funding to meet new needs in the next few years. We plan for COVID contingencies to ensure there will be a live and highly visible weekend in 2022 regardless.

Sustainable Woodstock seeks to partner with the Public Works Department of Woodstock to fund two electric leaf blowers for town and village use. Currently, the Town and Village Highway Garages use backpack leaf blowers for lawn care in the spring and fall. The Village crew also uses leaf blowers to clean potholes. Replacing gas blowers with electric blowers would significantly decrease noise pollution in town and eliminate air pollution. Additionally, electric blowers are safer for the workers operating them and the general public.

Sustainable Woodstock is also in the process of developing educational materials on the safety and environmental hazards of gas-powered leaf blowers. The grant would allow us to do a small print run of pamphlets to provide to residents, local contractors, and businesses who employ them. These educational materials would provide a helpful companion to the example set by the town’s switch to electric blowers.

I created this smartphone app to help visitors to Woodstock know where to stay, where to dine, where to shop, and what to do.

The Woodstock History Center will develop a new outdoor space that aims to enhance young children’s discovery and imagination. This new project will consist of a new children’s garden, miniature barn, and play space on the back lawn of the Woodstock History Center.

Greetings from Woodstock Wheels!
Starting in May of 2021 I began a business renting out electric bicycles to the broader Woodstock community and tourists. It was a great success with many fully booked weekends and happy customers. I provided all upfront costs including a $10,000 loan which paid for 11 e-bikes, helmets, bike tools/supplies, merchandise, marketing costs, etc. The Woodstock Recreation Center was generous enough to let me use their space to run my business.

This grant will provide me with the funds I will need to grow and show people a new and exciting way to explore our village and surrounding communities. I will be able to purchase a larger quantity and better quality e-bikes as-well-as expand my network, keep up with proper maintenance, and pursue a variety of ideas to provide customers with a unique and memorable experience of Vermont’s remarkable landscape.

Greetings from Woodstock Wheels!
Starting in May of 2021 I began a business renting out electric bicycles to the broader Woodstock community and tourists. It was a great success with many fully booked weekends and happy customers. I provided all upfront costs in addition to a $10,000 personal loan which paid for 11 e-bikes, helmets, bike tools/supplies, merchandise, marketing costs, etc. The Woodstock Recreation Center was generous enough to let me use their space to run my business.

This grant will provide me with the funds I will need to grow and show people a new and exciting way to explore our village and surrounding communities. I will be able to purchase a larger quantity and better quality e-bikes as-well-as expand my network, keep up with proper maintenance, and pursue a variety of ideas to provide customers with a unique and memorable experience of Vermont’s remarkable landscape.