For many business owners, turning your passion into a viable, sustainable business is a challenging adventure. Abbey Duke, owner of Sugarsnap Vermont Catering, was faced with finding a financing solution for her rapidly growing business. With a recommendation from the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), she turned to Opportunities Credit Union for help with her unique small-business lending needs.
Stories
New-Aged Spirits
Sas Stewart and Sivan Cotel, owners of Stonecutter Spirits, are passionate about gin and whiskey. With the help Opportunities Credit Union, they received the support and funding to renovate a 12,000 square foot warehouse into a space that accommodates offices, tastings, events, and a distillery for their unique barrel-aging spirits operation.
Barrio Bakery
Barrio Bakery’s exterior bright colors of yellow, red, and blue are both eye-catching and inviting to passersby, but it’s the quality pastries and warm atmosphere that keep people coming back for more. Located in the Old North End of Burlington, VT, Barrio has become known as the neighborhood bakery, which is fitting, as Barrio translates […]
The Vermont Comedy Club
The last thing you think about when tying the knot is laughter, but it was the first thing on Natalie Miller and Nathan Hartswick’s minds. The couple exchanged their vows and launched their business, Spark Arts, on the same day in 2011. Their comedic timing has been the driving force behind building a good marriage […]
Butch + Babe’s
Burlington is home not only to Opportunities Credit Union, but also to a myriad of cultures due to its large immigrant and refugee population. Opportunities has helped many new Vermonters with its “Coming to America” loan, but rarely does it get such a perfect chance to promote culture while helping a small business owner secure […]
Infinity Dance Studio
Family, connection, and community are all words that embody Opportunities Credit Union. They are also qualities in which Brea McBride, owner and artistic director of Infinity Dance Studio, swears by. As a child beginning her dance career in Ohio, Brea recalls how her instructor, Yvonne Dekay, was like a mom to her, and the studio […]
Qi Vet
The opportunity to follow your ambition sometimes first takes the courage to believe in yourself and your dream. When you take those first steps to achieving your goal – Opportunities will help see you the rest of the way. Opportunities Credit Union wasn’t there at the start of Dr. Nathan Heilman and Therese Fafard’s dream […]
Four Quarters Brewing
When opportunity puts your dream within reach, make sure you’re ready to make it a reality. Which is exactly what happened when Brian Eckert of Four Quarters Brewing met with Greg Huysmen at Opportunities Credit Union. Armed with a well drawn up business plan, Brian sat down with Greg to discuss a small business loan […]
