Ferrisburgh grain center moves ahead

Plans are moving forward to establish a multi-use, agriculturally based business — including grain processing, whiskey distilling and a café — on prominent Ferrisburgh land at the intersection of Routes 7 and 22A just outside of Vergennes.

Two Addison County farms and two local businesses were among those Vermont operations winning grants recently announced by the Working Lands Enterprise Board.

The Ferrisburgh selectboard at its Oct. 3 meeting agreed to six-month extensions of the two purchase-and-sale agreements for the town-owned 34.9-acre parcel that lies at the junction of Routes 7 and 22A. 

One is a maker of artisanal shortbread now based in Shelburne, and the other is a founder of Caledonia Spirits, who would process and grow grain and could also open a distillery on the site.