The Norwich Farm Foundation (NFF) has come to an agreement with Vermont State Colleges to purchase the six-acre Norwich Farm property on Turnpike Road. The news appears as a pop-up on the NFF website. Closing is projected for spring/summer 2022 but depends on a fundraising campaign.
The site houses the Norwich Farm Creamery which is in litigation with its landlord, the Vermont Technical College. In contrast, the NFF plans to collaborate with the Creamery.
“We’re thrilled to let you know that the Norwich Farm Foundation has finalized a purchase and sale agreement with Vermont State Colleges for the purchase of Norwich Farm,” said NFF in an email to supporters. “We’re excited to move forward with our plans to re-start this farm and build a self-sustaining value-added dairy system in this new not-for-profit structure.”
The Foundation is also launching a fundraising campaign to fund the “Foundation’s purchase of the farm and its operational plan. The first-step goal is to reach $250,000 to fund the required deposit and secure financing,” said the email. “The long-term goal is to raise $1.75M over the next two years to fund the five-year operational plan.”
The WCAX story and video is here.
Great to see a retailer saved, especially in this pandemic environment as well as the challenges between landlord and tenant. Special thanks to the Norwich residents who created the non profit and supported the retailer. Excited to see the day when cows return and farm operations return on site. It’s a win for Chris and Laura and the Town of Norwich to persevere given the contentious start to the negotiations and the separate sale(s) by the technical school.