As you may know, last year the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation or BDCC inaugurated their annual Business Plan Competition. Last year we each entered with our own projects, neither of which quite made the cut, but this year, having put our creative minds together to create FulcrumArts, we decided to submit our business plan and we won the competition for Existing Businesses.

Besides getting to meet Governor Jim Douglas, we also received a fancy certificate and grant check for $20,000! Check out the nifty pic below with the Governor and Start-Up Business Plan winner Matthew Murano (photo courtesy the BDCC).

With a project this size, it hasn’t taken us long to find plenty of ways to put the money to good use. In future posts we’ll fill you in on how the grant has helped including, our building renovation plans which are coming together with the help of Architect Stewart Savel, our business and marketing development strategy forming with help of our accountant Steve Jones and the rest of the FulcrumArts Advisory Committee (more on these good folks coming too), as well as the host of other tasks small, medium, and large that seem to appear as fast as we move forward on things.

Maybe the best way to describe our vision for what FulcrumArts is to share some of the executive summary of our business plan:

…FulcrumArts will strive to become the premiere center for fine craft collecting and fine craft education in Southern Vermont.

FulcrumArts new facilities will provide a wide range of ways for prospective buyers to view finished works and work in progress as well as learn about the tools, techniques, and artistry of fine glass and ceramic pieces in artist demonstrations and hands-on training. Interested collectors and other buyers will be able to purchase finished one-of-a-kind pieces, a line of functional wares, commission new work, as well as receive design consultation for in-home art placement through Fulcrum Gallery. In addition, the size of the Elm Street building offers FulcrumArts other opportunities to raise revenue while further enriching the arts campus environment through lease arrangements for artist studio space, classroom space, and retail dining/café space.

Yep, it’s a big vision, but we know we can do it with the help and support of our families, friends, and community.