Vermont § 4710 - Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program

§ 4710. Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program

• (a) The Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program is a voluntary program established in
  the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to provide assistance to Vermont farm,
  food, and forest-sector businesses to enhance the financial success and long-term
  viability of Vermont agricultural and forest sectors. In administering the Program,
  the Secretary shall: (1) Collaborate with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to administer the program
  with other State and federal agencies, private entities, and service groups to develop,
  coordinate, and provide technical and financial assistance to Vermont farm, food,
  and forest-sector businesses. (2) Secure and coordinate experts to assist farm, food, and forest-sector business owners
  in areas such as business and financial planning, succession planning, diversifying,
  adopting new technologies, improving product quality, developing value-added products,
  and lowering costs of production. Providers may include business management specialists,
  University of Vermont Extension professionals, and other experts to deliver the educational
  and consulting services. (3) Encourage agricultural or forest-sector economic development through investing in
  improvements to essential infrastructure and the promotion of businesses in these
  sectors. (4) Enter into agreements with private organizations or individuals or with any agency
  or instrumentality of the United States or of this State and employ technical experts
  to carry out the purposes of this section. (b) The Farm and Forest Viability Program shall be assisted by an advisory board consisting
  of 12 members who shall include: (1) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Secretary shall serve as Chair
  of the Board. (2) The Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or designee. (3) The Commissioner of Economic Development or designee. (4) The Manager of the Vermont Economic Development Authority or designee. (5) The Director of University of Vermont Extension or designee. (6) The Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board or designee. (7) Four Vermont agricultural or forest-sector business owners appointed by the Secretary
  of Agriculture, Food and Markets in consultation with the Vermont Housing and Conservation
  Board and the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation. At least two of the four
  business owners shall be agricultural-sector business owners. (8) Two people who have expertise in agricultural or forest-sector economics, financing,
  or business development appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  in consultation with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Commissioner
  of Forests, Parks and Recreation. (c) Members of the Advisory Board established in subsection (b) of this section other
  than ex officio members shall serve up to three two-year terms and shall be entitled
  to per diem expenses pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for each day spent in the performance of their duties, and each such member shall
  be reimbursed for his or her reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out his or her
  duties under this section. (d) In consultation with the Advisory Board, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board shall establish performance goals,
  performance measures that demonstrate Program results, and other criteria to implement
  the Program. The criteria shall include at least the following requirements: (1) the use of funds available to the Program is likely to succeed in improving the economic
  viability of the business; (2) the enrollees demonstrate commitment to participating in the Program; and (3) an evaluation shall be completed by the enrollees. (e) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Commissioner of Forests, Parks
  and Recreation, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, separately or cooperatively,
  may solicit federal funds, grants, and private contributions for the Farm and Forest
  Viability Program, but any Vermont Housing and Conservation Board funds used for the
  Farm and Forest Viability Program shall be administered in accordance with 10 V.S.A. § 312. (f) In collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Commissioner
  of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board shall
  report in writing to the Senate Committees on Agriculture and on Economic Development,
  Housing and General Affairs and the House Committees on Agriculture and Forestry and
  on Commerce and Economic Development on or before January 31 of each year with a report
  on the activities and performance of the Farm and Forest Viability Program. At a minimum,
  the report shall include an evaluation of the Program utilizing the performance goals
  and performance measures established in consultation with the Advisory Board under
  subsection (d) of this section. (g) [Repealed.] (Added 2003, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 3, 2004; amended 2005, No. 77, § 2; 2005, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2007, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2015, No. 11, § 6; 2017, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)