Small Business Grants

988. NOW TO A STORY OF A PHOENIX RISING FROM THE ASHES. A YEAR AGO, THE LONG RUNNING CRAFT, VERMONT FINE CRAFT AND ART SHOW CAME TO AN END AFTER MORE THAN 70 YEARS. THE GROUP BEHIND IT, VERMONT HAND CRAFTERS, DISSOLVED, SAYING IT STRUGGLED WITH DECLINING MEMBERSHIP AND LOST REVENUE FROM WHEN EVENTS HAD TO CANCEL FOR THE PANDEMIC. WELL, THIS WEEKEND, A NEW EVENT AIMS TO FILL THE VOID LEFT BY THAT CANCELLATION AND KEEPING WITH TRADITION, ITS IN THE SAME SPOT, THE SAME WEEKEND BEFORE THANKSGIVING. ITS CALLED CELEBRATE VERMONT, AND IT COMBINES ARTS, FINE CRAFTS, SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCERS, DISTILLERS AND WINEMAKERS. MORE. TWO EXHIBITORS WERE AT THE DOUBLETREE IN SOUTH BURLINGTON TODAY, SETTING UP FOR THE JURIED SHOW BEFORE IT OPENS TOMORROW. A NEW NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION CALLED 802 ARTS HOUSE AND THE VETERAN EVENT PROMOTERS AT STARBOARD EVENTS ARE PUTTING IT ON. THOSE ORGANIZERS SAY IT IS VITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HAVE A MAJOR PRESENCE LIKE THIS IN THE BURLINGTON AREA, AS THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON KICKS OFF, MANY OF THE MORE THAN 120 VENDORS ON TWO LEVELS AT THE HOTEL ARE FAMILIAR FACES FROM THE OLD EVENT. WHO REALLY WANTED TO SEE SOMETHING NEW TAKE ITS PLACE. THERE ARE DOZENS OF NEW MAKERS AS WELL. WE HAVE REPEAT CUSTOMERS. PEOPLE COME AND LOOK FOR US. THEY DRIVE IN FROM OUT OF STATE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WERE GOING TO BE HERE. SO THE SHOW IS BIG AND THE ARTISTS DO DEPEND ON IT. YOURE BUYING RIGHT FROM THE MAKER WHO PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THAT PIECE. ITS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THOSE ORGANIZERS SAY CELEBRATE VERMONT WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL EXHIBITORS WHO SUFFERED DEEP LOSSES WHEN POWERFUL WINDS CAUSED DAMAGE AND FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF ANOTHER EVENT WHERE THEY WERE SET UP. OCTOBERS STOWE FOLIAGE ARTS FESTIVAL. THE NEW CELEBRATE VERMONT FESTIVAL RUNS TOMORROW THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE DOUBLETREE IN SOUTH BURLINGTON. TICKETS ARE $12 AT THE DOOR, BUT A $2 OFF COUPON