Rutland County · Vermont
Build your
business here.
Startup Rutland helps anyone in Rutland County start or grow a business — with education through UVM PACE, grants and loans up to $250K, regular community events, and an incubator for high-growth ventures. Tech, trades, creative, service, community-focused — all welcome.
Why we exist
Most of the people who could start a great business in Rutland County never do.
We’re trying to change that. Startup Rutland is a program of the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region — built to attract, support, and retain entrepreneurs across every industry. From a first idea to a growing team, we provide the education, infrastructure, capital, and connections that turn ideas into sustainable businesses, right here in the county.
The 3 Pillars
How Startup Rutland delivers.
Three interconnected pillars carry founders from first idea to sustainable business — structured cohorts, a funded path to ownership, and ongoing education year-round.
Pillar 01
Actuator Entrepreneurship Cohorts
Structured 8-week accelerator for idea- and validation-stage founders.
The Actuator program is a structured, 8-week entrepreneurship cohort delivered in partnership with Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC). It brings 6 to 8 founders per cohort — industry-agnostic, idea- to validation-stage — into an intensive curriculum of customer discovery, business model design, financial fundamentals, marketing, legal basics, and pitch development. Every cohort is anchored by a local Entrepreneur-in-Residence who deepens regional ties and provides mentorship that continues long after the program ends.
Pillar 02
Pathways to Business Ownership
Free 6-week cohort program equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with tools to launch.
The Pathway to Business Ownership is a free, six-week cohort program designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs from idea to launch readiness. Offered four times a year, it serves up to 100 participants annually across all seasons at The Hub CoWorks in Downtown Rutland. Each participant completes the program with a full business plan, a 12-month financial projection, a launch roadmap, and a strengthened professional network. Graduates also receive six months of free Hub CoWorks membership and one year of complimentary CEDRR Chamber membership.
Pillar 03
Education & Events
Ongoing workshops, advising sessions, certifications, and resource mixers.
StartUp Rutland’s third pillar extends support beyond cohort programs through ongoing education, community events, professional resources, and direct financial assistance for early-stage businesses. This pillar reaches more than 250 businesses and residents each year and is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are at every stage, with every type of need.
How we help
Support at every stage of the journey.
From the half-formed idea you haven’t told anyone about, to the growth-stage company hiring its tenth employee — there’s a different kind of support that helps at each stage.
“Thank you to StartUp Rutland for the early investment in Bubble Bubble! I was able to use funds for a future employee and myself to attend a 2-day, hands-on Boba Academy in New Jersey, taught by an instructor from Taiwan (where boba tea was invented). We learned how to properly cook tapioca pearls, brew different kinds of tea, perfectly sweeten a bubble tea drink, and even how to blend smoothies and slushies.
We left New Jersey energized and confident that we can make a nearly endless combination of drinks at Bubble Bubble quickly and accurately. I can’t wait to open our doors so we can share the joy of authentic boba tea with the Rutland region!”
– Casie Yoder, owner,
Bubble Bubble, Brandon
Stage 01
Concept
Pressure-test the idea. Validate the market. Decide if it’s worth building.
Stage 02
Planning
Free 1:1 business planning with VT SBDC. Financials, structure, and runway.
Stage 03
Launch
Register, brand, set up systems, find your first customers in the Rutland region.
Stage 04
Growth
Hire, scale operations, access grants and revolving loan capital up to $250K.
Stage 05
Expansion
Move beyond Rutland County. Connect with regional partners and state-level resources.
Education
Learn to run your business well.
Through our partnership with UVM PACE (Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Vermont) and MindEdge, Inc., founders can take real business courses — most under $200, available online or in person across Vermont.
Contact StartUp Rutland to discuss reimbursement opportunities.
- Start HereIntro to Entrepreneurship
- FoundationsAccounting & Finance for Entrepreneurs
- FoundationsBusiness Law for Entrepreneurs
- FoundationsStrategic Marketing
- GrowthLeadership & Management
- AppliedStarting an Online Store
Capital for every
stage of growth.
No equity required. Startup Rutland connects you with local, state, and federal funding sources — from day-one reimbursable grants to six-figure revolving loans. At this time, grant funds are currently fully disbursed.
Revolving Loan Fund
Low-interest loans for Rutland County businesses — startup costs, equipment, working capital, and renovation. Flexible repayment, no equity required.
Reimbursable Grants
EDA Build to Scale
Additional Programs
VT Agency of Commerce, Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), USDA Rural Development, SBA microloans, and VEDA financing — we help you identify which programs fit your business.
“I cannot thank the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region team enough for your support through the Start Up Rutland Grant. This funding is making it possible for me to obtain the certification that will significantly expand the capabilities of ClearSight Infrared & Aerial Services and help me provide advanced inspection services to businesses throughout the region.
I am extremely excited to begin the coursework and look forward to completing the certification over the next couple of months.
Once completed, I will be able to offer comprehensive infrared inspection services for electrical systems, solar PV installations, battery energy storage systems, commercial and industrial facilities, and utility infrastructure.
This grant has been a tremendous catalyst for my business, and I am committed to building ClearSight into a long-term asset for the region. As the company continues to grow, I look forward to exploring future opportunities to work with the Chamber and other economic development partners on expanding our capabilities through additional equipment and technology investments.
Thank you again for your confidence in my business and for investing in its growth. I truly appreciate your support and look forward to demonstrating the value this opportunity will bring to our local business community.”
– James Pyenta Sr., owner
ClearSight Infrared & Aerial Services, LLC
Show up. Build
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Program graduates
