#BarnPitch2016 is the eighth stop of the 3rd Annual freshTracks Capital Road Pitch. #RoadPitch sends “business bikers” on a five-day motorcycle trip around Vermont where they will hold “office hours” in select towns stopping by appointment to listen to business “pitches” from start-up or early-stage companies.
Blog
The Swingin’ Pinwheel
What originally began as a vague vision of a mobile food cart working the streets of Burlington, a full-fledged, family-owned bakery and eatery unlike any other in the area was born, and Andrew and Wendy couldn’t be more thrilled. Thanks to the investments they made with Opportunities, their dreams of owning a thriving business became a reality within one year.
Snap Fitness
At Snap Fitness, you’re not just a member of a gym; you’re part of a community of like-minded people. Owners Lori and Brad Lockwood say that this gives members a feeling of ownership. Together with Opportunities, they’ve expanded Snap Fitness to three locations, providing Vermonters with access to state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness facilities.
5 Homebuying Hurdles to Avoid
Buying a home can be one of the most rewarding milestones for people who are both established and financially stable. What better way to plant your roots, build a family, and foster your individuality than to invest in a home? What some people might not realize, is that there are many hurdles during the decision making process that can impact your life over the next thirty years.
Vermont Edible Landscapes
Meghan Giroux of Vermont Edible Landscapes has made it possible for individuals and families to beautify their outdoor spaces while also helping the Earth with “sustainable and edible” landscaping. She turned to Opportunities Credit Union when it came time to finance her small business.
5 Ways Banking is Changing with Technology
Within the past few years, we’ve watched technology progress in ways we never dreamed possible. Now, many homes have more than one tablet, smartphone, and laptop which has allowed for interconnectivity like never before. While the digital world is moving at a quick pace, it is vital for different industries to keep up with the times–the financial world included.
Queen City Dry Goods
A one-man custom shoe shop launched in Burlington a little over 15 years ago started Matt Renna on the path to found Queen City Dry Goods. However, having the design mastery to create beautiful leather goods is just one part of the picture. In order to grow his operation, Matt needed to find a financing partner that truly understood small businesses. That’s when he turned to Opportunities Credit Union.
With Love Photography
Before the opening of With Love Photography, residents of Johnson, Vermont would have to travel long distances to get photographs of their families and newborns. Due to its remote location, few photographers had thought to open a business in the Johnson area and would instead opt to open studios in Chittenden or Washington counties. Cousins and business partners, Heather Perkins and Mariah Reed, sought to break this mold.
When is the right time to buy a home?
Think about your current financial situation and personal aspirations. Where does home ownership fit in? If you’re itching to settle down, now may be a good time to determine whether you’re ready to handle this exciting commitment and take the first steps towards obtaining a mortgage. We’ve developed a checklist of factors to help you decide if now is the right time to purchase a home.
Laughing Child Farm
Ripe with farmer’s markets and organic products, it can be difficult to stand out among competitive farming businesses. Farmers Timothy and Brooke Hughes-Muse learned this first-hand while they were selling eggs, vegetables, and meat birds as a side-business years ago. Realizing there were many other farms in the area already selling such products, the married couple decided they needed to produce a crop that was missing from the Rutland County area: Sweet potatoes.
