A Vermont Brand Born on the Mountain

Claire Zhu couldn't find quality winter gear for her kids that actually kept them warm on the mountain. So she made it herself.

Five years later, her Vermont children's outerwear brand, Hootie Hoo, is carried by REI and evo and was named best kids' ski jacket by Ski magazine — and it all started with a VCLF loan when traditional banks wouldn't help. That loan was made possible by everyday Vermonters who invest with VCLF to keep their money working locally.



Her inspiring story is a good entry point if you've been curious about impact investing — and how your money can have real impacts in communities across Vermont.

Destroy Audio, Wolcott

A windowless building beside a pond, somewhere off a dirt road in Wolcott. No signage. Hidden entrance. Inside: a world-class recording studio built from the ground up by two music industry veterans.

Destroy Audio VT is now open, and VCLF is proud to have supported founders Zeph and Liz Courtney in bringing it to life. Zeph spent 40 years recording and touring before coming home to Vermont to build the studio he always wanted. Liz helped launch the careers of artists like TV on the Radio and Iron & Wine before the two became partners in music and in business.

The studio is open to local musicians and visiting artists looking for a quiet, serious place to create.

A Vermont Community had a vision. Impact investors helped make it possible.

In Pittsford, a historic, unused farmhouse is being transformed into a childcare center, cafe, affordable apartments, and community meeting space. Financing from VCLF helped make it a reality.

This week's sponsored piece in VT Digger highlights the transformation at the Pittsford Village Farm and how impact investors make it possible.

Additional news:

• Workforce housing is essential to solving the child care crisis
  
• Ashley Andreas uncovered a passion for environmental building practices
  
• Make way for Kids grants expand Vermont child care

• 4/13: VECAA Issue Spotlight: Reach Up & CIS
• 4/15: Is Your Community Housing Ready? VCDA Spring Conference
• 4/16: VCLF's Virtual Impact Investing Info Session
• 5/12: Southern Vermont Economy Summit

VCLF is hiring a Director of Housing and Community Facilities Programs

This senior role leads all aspects of our housing and community facilities lending — including new business development, loan underwriting, and portfolio management — while co-leading our broader lending department alongside our Director of Business and Early Childhood Education Programs.

We're looking for someone with experience in affordable housing development and a genuine commitment to economic opportunity in Vermont.

We're proud to celebrate 15 years with Dan Winslow, our Director of Business and Early Childhood Education Programs! 🎉

Dan joined VCLF as a loan administrator, advanced to loan officer, and has led our business and early childhood lending programs since 2019. That kind of progression, from processing loans to shaping the programs behind them, reflects both Dan's growth and the depth of experience he brings to every borrower relationship. Congratulations, Dan!