Dr Seuss said it right: “The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”. These are wise words indeed, which is why we’re delighted to say that Ingrid Chrisco, co-founder of True North Granola, is taking part in a nine month educational program designed to educate the next generation of farm and food entrepreneurs in Windham County, Vermont. This program, called Windham Grows, is launched by the Strolling of The Heifers Foundation of Brattleboro, VT. The classes are taught by Cairn Cross of Fresh Tracks Capital and Jim Verzino, a sustainable business entrepreneur

Windham Grows is “a business hatchery with a mission to help existing businesses grow” by providing support, essential services, resources and financing. To insure this, the program provides outreach, workshops and networking opportunities. The combination of curriculum-based sessions and individually tailored sessions creates a well-rounded program to nurture upcoming entrepreneurs and point them in a fruitful direction.

Windham Grows intends to build up the Vermont community during a time when the state is no stranger to economic battles. To address this, the program cites that, if current trends continue for over a 10-year period, it will be responsible for nurturing and building “85 food and agriculture businesses, employing nearly 1,000 people…and (will) attract more than $45 million in private investment”. The ultimate goal of the program is to expand into the neighboring counties and states, with hopes to strengthen economic development more extensively in the region. We here at True North Granola are very excited to be a part of this wonderful movement.

Windham Grows sessions will be held at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden building, The Strolling of the Heifer’s headquarters in downtown Brattleboro. We encourage anyone who is interested in more information regarding Windham Grows, to check out the program’s web page: http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/windhamgrows/.”