As part of Copper Leaf Financial’s focus on sustainability we welcomed Janice St. Onge, President of the Flexible Capital Fund, winner of the 2022 VBSR Innovation & Inspiration Award.

The Flexible Capital Fund, L3C (Flex Fund) is a Montpelier, Vermont based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) which provides creative, unique financing to Vermont’s growth-stage companies in sustainable agriculture and food systems, forest products, and clean technology sectors. We discuss FCF’s history and structure, how they work as a lender and investor, and how they provide advisory and development resources to help the portfolio of companies they work with. We also hear more about how the Flex Fund’s innovative capital structure and creative investment terms support their ability to offer members both positive impact and financial returns.

The Flexible Fund has made investments in Vermont Smoke & Cure, Grow Compost of Vermont, Encore Renewable Energy, MamaSezz, Aqua Vitea, Bolton Valley Resort, and many others.

This virtual townhall is hosted by Michael L. Thompson, CAP®, AIF®, AEP® of Copper Leaf Financial and features Janice St. Onge, President of the Flexible Capital Fund.

More about Janice St. Onge:

Janice St. Onge is President of the Flexible Capital Fund, L3C (“Flex Fund”), an impact-focused, CDFI fund, providing flexible risk capital (revenue based financing, subordinated debt and equity) to Vermont’s food system, forestry and clean technology businesses. As President, Janice manages all facets of the Flex Fund’s operations, including raising capital, deal flow, due diligence, and portfolio / financial management. Janice brings economic and business development, as well as financial expertise to the organization, having served in the technology, financial services, higher education and state government sectors during her 25+ year career. Previously, Janice served as Director of the Vermont Business Center (now the Center for Leadership & Innovation) at the University of Vermont and was the Technology Business Development Director for Vermont’s Department of Economic Development. She received the 2001 National Tibbetts Award in recognition for her outreach work with the Small Business Innovation Research program in Vermont. As Assistant Vice President at Peoples Bank, she originated and managed a $21 million commercial loan portfolio. Janice is a graduate of the University of Utah with a B.A. in Marketing and is an alumnus of the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute. Janice is a 2018-19 Fellow of the RSF Social Finance’s Just Economy Institute. She is a founding member of the Vermont Women’s Investors Network, and Slow Money Vermont and serves on the Vermont Small Business Development Center Advisory Board. A Stowe, Vermont resident, Janice was co-founder of the Stowe Energy and Climate Action Network and is a former International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup Freestyle Skiing Judge.

Click here for more information about The Flexible Capital Fund.