Success Story: Vermont
Steven Davis of Vermont High Performance Manufactured Housing in Wilder is no stranger to the construction business. He has been building homes for more than 30 years, most recently providing affordable net-zero green home construction services to Vermont homeowners and beyond.
But when he recently decided to purchase a permanent home for his own business, he knew it was time to seek some assistance. Davis was seeking funds to purchase a building to house his home manufacturing business. Once he found a location, seeking funds to purchase that location proved challenging, he said.
Davis quickly sought assistance from the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). GMEDC recommended Davis contact Vermont Small Business Development Center Area Advisor Ross Hart, who shepherded him through the sometimes tedious process of a business property purchase. “Working with Ross [Hart] was great because he was not intimidating,” Davis said. “He helped me understand where I was in my business and what was needed to move forward,” he said.
Hart and Davis quickly went to work on the items necessary to obtain funding for the business purchase, developing and drafting a business plan, establishing financial projections and developing a robust network of resources for years to come. “I was able to dive more into the financial aspect of things and gain more financial knowledge,” Davis said, adding that he also learned about training and education programs for his employees.
Davis said his work with Hart was crucial to his business property purchase, describing the experience as “informational,” “honest,” and “real.” “[Hart] was great about keeping me on track and helping me establish realistic goals for the business,” Davis said. “[Hart] is willing to talk to me on a quarterly and yearly basis to assess my work and help me stay focused.”
Learn more about the Vermont SBDC and Vermod High Performance Modular Homes.