Vermont Small Business Environment Assessment for Underrepresented Communities

submitted by The Main Street Alliance & The Vermont Professionals of Color Network 

Published in September 2023, this assessment reports on the statewide survey and listening sessions that took place for historically excluded groups including:

  • Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
  • Women-owned small businesses
  • Veteran-owned small businesses BIPOC
  • Small businesses based in rural areas

In total, MSA and VT PoC obtained 498 small business owner survey responses.

The purpose of this data collection was to better understand the successes and challenges of the small business community in Vermont, as well as potential changes at the policy level to alleviate these burdens. By listening deeply and centering the small business voice, we hope to influence transformative change in Vermont to create a more equitable and accessible small business economy. This is a report inclusive of data from the statewide survey and listening sessions.

Learn more from the complete assessment that appears below: