Jake, owner of the Firebird Cafe, opened Nest Coffee and Bakery after realizing that what the community of Essex Junction needed and wanted was a coffee shop. He sought the support of Opportunities Credit Union to help make his dream of a coffee shop a reality.

Stacey ​Hamblett, owner of the Urban Salon Team, created a unique space where clients can link their inner and outer beauty. After financing fell through six weeks before opening with a traditional bank she’d been with for years, ​Hamblett​ received help from Opportunities Credit Union to realize her vision.

Dennille Austin is the owner of the Village Green Florist, a unique shop in Essex that caters to the needs of both everyday shoppers and couples preparing for their weddings. When it came time to find financing to purchase her shop, she found a partner in Opportunities Credit Union.

Tom Coggio, owner of Coggio Upholstery, takes the worn down treasures of local residents and offers the unique service of making them into something both beautiful and durable. He learned he could get business financing from Opportunities Credit Union at a significantly lower rate than he was paying to a national bank.

Ryan and Jessica Bunce, owners of Barrio Bakery in Burlington, are now opening One Radish Eatery in Richmond, a unique breakfast-and-lunch spot that serves delicious dishes and picnic-ready foods. The Bunce’s have found a powerful financing partner in Opportunities Credit Union, known for financing small businesses in the area and for providing great customer service.

Jeff Weaber is the founder of Aqua ViTea, a company that brews Kombucha, a fermented beverage that has been improving people’s’ wellbeing naturally for thousands of years. He had help from Opportunities to finance his rapid growth and expand his operations into mainstream grocery stores across the East Coast.

A Vermont start-up, Clustas makes innovative, magnetic weights that have awesome potential both for fitness enthusiasts and for individuals dealing with physical challenges. At Opportunities Credit Union, Rollin Rachele found a financial partner that understands the local business scene and is eager to support entrepreneurs.

Christine and Kevin are co-founders of Mud City Adventures, offering kids camps to Stowe residents during summers to encourage them to unplug and immerse themselves in multi-dimensional learning. They credit Opportunities Credit Union for helping to make the financial aspect of the business possible.

Heather Norton, the founder of Village Spa, wanted to give the small community of Brandon, VT a place to relax and recharge. Working with Greg Huysman, Senior Business Development Manager at Opportunities, she was able to receive financial help to expand her rapidly growing business.

Brent started in the business of healthy vending by developing Vitality Vending, a company dedicated to offering healthier options to the busy frequenters of vending machines. With the help of Greg Huysman, Senior Business Development Manager, Brent was able to finance the needs of Vitality with Small Business Loans from Opportunities.

The Hairy Bear combines a family-friendly hair salon with the ability to give back to the community, making the process of getting a child’s haircut easy and enjoyable. Sandra Peck received a loan from Opportunities to move her salon to a more visible and highly trafficked location in order to save her business and help it grow.

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.