The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce as a recipient of a $50,000 Rural Business Development Grant.

The success of this grant application comes from the strategic direction of the Town’s most recent updated 2030 Comprehensive Plan with strategies outlining enhancing the support for local businesses to grow and thrive and excelling the community’s “maker’s entrepreneurial spirit.”

The Middlebury Chamber of Commerce will use this grant award to help create and run the
Middlebury Makers Rural Incubator.

Strengthening the local economy and the rural entrepreneurship community are the primary goals of the new business incubator.

The Middlebury 2030 Comprehensive Plan, coordinated by the Michiana Area Council of Governments, listed creating a business incubator in downtown Middlebury as

one of its objectives. This grant is key to completing that objective.

The USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant is designed to provide
technical assistance and training for small rural businesses in rural America. Entrepreneurs
in the Middlebury area looking to benefit from this unique business incubation experience
should contact Sheri Howland, Director of the Middlebury Chamber of Commerce at
director@middleburyinchamber.com.