Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award
Congratulations to the 2024 Recipients!
Open Door Clinic , based in Middlebury, Vermont, is helping alleviate the healthcare barriers, especially in rural areas. The clinic offers affordable healthcare in Addison County, Vermont, a vibrant agricultural area with a large immigrant population, including those on H-2A visas who have limited access to the U.S. healthcare system. The clinic plays an important role for the farmworker population by offering preventative care, in some cases through on-farm visits to help overcome transportation and logistical issues. The $25,000 award will provide support to the clinics, including necessary supplies for managing chronic conditions and home monitoring. Learn more in this short video.
Point Positive , based in Saranac Lake, New York, is an angel investing network serving the greater Adirondack Region by helping to grow small businesses and drive economic growth. Point Positive’s network of investors has provided more than $5 million to 13 growth stage businesses to help them accelerate their businesses and create jobs in sectors like food, clean energy and technology — businesses that will help diversify the region’s economy and reduce its reliance on tourism. In addition to investments, Point Positive also provides coaching and mentoring to the entrepreneurs leading these emerging businesses and provides local students with development opportunities through activities such as field trips and pitch competitions. The $25,000 award will be used to support additional outreach, education and mentoring. Learn more in this short video.
About the Award
Former Farm Credit East CEO Bill Lipinski was an advocate for Northeast rural communities. During his tenure, he witnessed the economic success of some rural areas while others faced hardships, including real or perceived lack of job opportunities/loss of key employers, declining populations/demographics, etc. Lipinski understood that the long-term success of Farm Credit customers depends on not only the vitality of their individual business, but also on the health of the rural communities where they are based, and he knew Farm Credit East could do more to combat this disparity among rural communities. That is why the Farm Credit East Board of Directors established the Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award upon his retirement – to grow the organization's support of rural communities in his honor.
Eligibility
The Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award is to recognize previous, existing and/or ongoing initiatives. It is not intended as a grant to fund future projects, although it is hoped the financial award and the recognition from receiving the award will enhance the recipients’ ability to continue to make a positive impact in the future.
The award aims to recognize and reward programs, projects, individuals, businesses, organizations and/or institutions that:
- Create jobs in rural areas of the Northeast.
- Contribute to the quality of life in rural communities.
- Enhance the infrastructure, such as community facilities and broadband, necessary for strong rural economies.
This award is not intended to recognize innovative production agriculture practices unless there is a broader impact beyond the farm level.
Nominees should be based in Farm Credit East’s territory, although nominees from outside the territory may be eligible if the initiative for which they are being nominated is positively impacting the rural areas of Farm Credit East’s territory (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont). Self-nominations are permitted.
Funds will be provided directly to the recipient. Awards will be made at the sole discretion of the selection committee.
Any Director or employee of Farm Credit East or CoBank shall clearly indicate their affiliation with Farm Credit in their supporting materials. Failure to disclose this information shall cause the project to be ineligible for consideration.
2025 Award
The deadline for the 2025 award nominations has passed. Recipients will be notified in March.
Past Recipients
2023 Recipients
Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (MAVAC), based in Marathon, New York, received a $25,000 award to support the expansion of its essential services, improving health care access for residents in Marathon and its surrounding towns. Learn more in this short video.
Veterans Base Camp, based in Chaplin, Connecticut, will use its $25,000 award to purchase a greenhouse to extend the growing season for produce for their food pantry. Learn more in this short video.
2022 Recipients
Cayuga Milk Ingredients/Cayuga Marketing, two affiliated dairy organizations, used its$25,000 award to support programs for both dairy manufacturing and farm employees, including providing opportunities for networking and to improve their knowledge and technical skills. Learn more in this short video.
The Foundation for Rural Service, a 501(c)3 created by NCTA – The Rural Broadband Association, was recognized for its Virtual Living Room initiative in Bristol, Vermont, a project carried out in conjunction with Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. The Foundation for Rural Service's award supported broadband access projects in the rural Northeast. Learn more in this short video.
2021 Recipients
In the award's inaugural year, recipients were Letchworth Gateway Villages and Three Rivers Farmers Alliance. Learn more in this short video.