After several years of community partnership and robust funding efforts, stakeholders gathered in Hardwick for a ribbon cutting celebration at the Yellow Barn. The iconic gateway to the village is now a food destination. The barn is home to a Cabot Creamery Cooperative retail space that highlights their dairy products along with other Vermont specialty foods. It’s a one-stop-shop for everyone’s favorite Vermont artisanal cheese, microbrews, hard cider, wine, and more!
The new Cabot Creamery retail space inside the Yellow Barn.
The redevelopment efforts were fueled, in part, by significant funding from ACCD, including $1.2 million from the State Brownfields Revitalization Fund, $1 million from the Community Recovery and Revitalization Program, $950,000 from the Vermont Community Development Program, and $1.75 million of Northern Border Regional Commission funds. This support helped transform the property into a thriving community and agricultural hub.
Over the course of seven years, federal, state and local grants and loans helped to make the redevelopment project a reality. David Lynn, President and CEO of Cabot Creamery/Agri-Mark Inc., put it best by saying that, as producers of aged cheddar, they “know a thing or two about it being worth the wait.”
Secretary Anson Tebbets (holding scissors) had the honor of cutting the ribbon at the celebration, marking the official opening of the project.
Adjacent to the barn is a new state-of-the-art agriculture facility. The 22,000 square foot accelerator is home to the Center for Agricultural Economy’s farm-to-supply chain service called “Farm Connex.” The new building will increase the capacity of Farm Connex to deliver products from small and medium farms and food businesses that might otherwise not have a way to get their products to market. The other anchor tenant is Jasper Hill Farm, an internationally acclaimed and award-winning cheese making business based in Greensboro. The impressive structure has allowed them to expand their operations and increase efficiency. Jasper Hill Farm has been eagerly awaiting this opportunity to make Hardwick the center of their operations and to secure good-paying jobs in the area.
Yellow Barn project in progress (left), and completed (right).
Yellow Barn during construction.
In remarks, Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Farm and Markets, Anson Tebbetts reflected on the extended community impacts, “These projects will benefit over 30 dairy processors by expanding market access to 100+ retailers, distributors, and consumers across the Northeast. For Jasper Hill and the Center for Agricultural Economy, the improvements in distribution, storage, and handling space, will likely boost sales by more than $8 million annually and create approximately ten new jobs while also improving employee well-being."
Prior to the redevelopment of the vacant property, the barn had a 30-year history of operating as an automotive repair and body shop. Business partners Stephen Ferber, Bobbi Nesbit, and Tim Nesbit were in attendance to mark the occasion and reflect on the evolution of the area.
[From left to right] Stephen Ferber, Bobbi Nesbit, Secretary Lindsay Kurrle, and Tim Nesbit
With the Town of Hardwick’s ownership and the management being contracted to the Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation, the Yellow Barn is a true community-centered economic development initiative that is poised to have substantial impact on the Northeast Kingdom, and beyond.