[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 27053]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VERMONT DEVELOPMENT CREDIT UNION

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, 10 years ago, Caryl Stewart, 
Executive Director of the Vermont Development Credit Union, had a dream 
for a grass roots community development ``bank'' to serve low and 
moderate income people in Burlington, Vermont. Who would have guessed 
them that her dream would become a growing credit union with over $10 
million in assets and 5,000 members in 175 Vermont towns?
  Through it all, the credit union, with Caryl at its helm, has stayed 
true to its vision of serving lower income families and small business 
entrepreneurs in Vermont. Not just with loans, but also with the 
personal attention and counseling needed to ensure that loan recipients 
succeed, whatever their goals. It is that commitment to Vermonters and 
the communities they live in that has won the Credit Union the support 
and patronage of so many Vermont businesses and organizations.
  It has also won the organization support from far beyond Vermont's 
borders. From Fannie Mae to the Community Development Financial 
Institutions program the Vermont Development Credit Union has received 
funding and won national recognition for its innovative lending and 
support programs.
  Vermont Development came from very small beginnings in a very small 
city of our very small State. But like that State, it had very big 
ideas and has earned its place as a model for organizations providing 
credit and financial assistance to low and moderate income people 
throughout the country.
  Happy Birthday, Vermont Development Credit Union and congratulations 
on 10 years of bringing hope and opportunity to thousands of 
Vermonters.

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