Winners of Farm Credit East’s Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award Announced

ENFIELD, CONN. — At Farm Credit East’s Annual Meeting held earlier this week, the financial cooperative was pleased to announce two winners of the Lipinski Rural Initiatives award. This year’s recipients are being recognized for their innovative approaches for improving rural access to healthcare and investing in rural businesses. Each recipient was awarded $25,000.

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.

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.

“Understanding that Northeast farm, forest products and fishing businesses depend on the health of the rural communities where they are based, we created this award to recognize efforts to enhance the quality of life in rural communities,” said board chair Laurie Griffen. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients! Both are doing excellent work to support rural communities, which will benefit the Farm Credit East customers who call those communities home. We hope this award helps them further their efforts.”

The Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award was created by Farm Credit East’s Board of Directors in 2020 to recognize former Farm Credit East CEO Bill Lipinski and aims to recognize innovative and transformational efforts to revitalize Northeast rural communities. Funding for the award was made possible by contributions from Farm Credit East matched by its strategic partner, CoBank. Nominations for the 2025 award will open in November.

Point Positive, based in Saranac Lake, N.Y., was a recipient of a 2024 Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award. Point Positive will use its $25,000 award to support additional outreach, education and mentoring. Pictured left to right are Farm Credit East Board Chair Laurie Griffen, CoBank Executive Vice President Brenda Frank, Point Positive Coordinator Melinda Little, and Farm Credit East CEO Mike Reynolds.

Open Door Clinic, based in Middlebury, Vt., was a recipient of a 2024 Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award. Open Door Clinic will use its $25,000 award to support its clinics, including necessary supplies for managing chronic conditions and home monitoring. Pictured left to right are Farm Credit East Board Chair Laurie Griffen, CoBank Executive Vice President Brenda Frank, Open Door Clinic Executive Director Heidi Sulis, Program and Clinical Director Julia Doucet, and Farm Credit East CEO Mike Reynolds.

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