ABOUT BRIC
The Black River Innovation Campus is rural Vermont’s opportunity infrastructure.
A nonprofit headquartered in Springfield, Vermont, BRIC connects students, job-seekers, and founders to the tools, training, and networks they need to build careers and companies in rural communities. Three pillars — STEAM education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship — running together as one pipeline.
INSPIRE
1,680
students reached via STEAM
56
educators in PD
15
summer camps in 2025-26
TRAIN
50+
in career certificate programs
24+
career pathway partners
4 Paid
internships in 2025-26
LAUNCH
$17M+
raised by Actuator companies
110+
startups since January 2021
650
mentor sessions
From a 2018 federal grant to a regional innovation pipeline.
A $1.4M EDA i6 grant funds BRIC’s launch in Springfield, VT
2018
COVID pivot: Actuator paused, BRIC supports community workforce shift to remote work
2020
Actuator relaunches; multimedia studio opens; first cohorts hosted
2021
BRIC receives $2.9M EDA Build to Scale Venture Challenge funding; programs expand statewide
2022
Actuator launches new curriculum and cohort structure
2023
Chamber names BRIC “Organization of the Year”; STEAM programming expands; SEEDVT pilot launches
2024
$7M Park Street restoration begins; VRmont Studios funded
2025
VRmont Studios opens in Springfield; Imagine Vermont campaign underway
2026
The people building BRIC.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Vincent Fusca, III
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Chris Maggiolo
DIRECTOR OF STEAM PROGRAMS
Ben McVety
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Caitlin Christiana
VRMONT STUDIOS OPERATIONS MANAGER
Josie Michaud
MENTOR-IN-RESIDENCE
Nate Larson
ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE
Braden Pan
Made possible with our partners.
Two locations. One mission.
Park Street School
The historic 1895 Park Street School is being restored into a 90,000 sq ft Live-Work-Learn campus — flexible office space, coworking, STEAM education facilities, and 23 residential apartments. $7M restoration underway through 2026.
VRmont Studios
BRIC’s downtown Springfield community-facing space — VR escape rooms, drone soccer arena, workshop and event space, K–12 STEAM programming, and a hub for community workshops and meetups.
Work from BRIC.
High-tech coworking with 10-gig VTel fiber internet, full desktop setups, conference room access, and use of the Rivers media studio. For independents, remote workers, founders, and visiting teams.
Local and national recognition.
RECOGNITION
2024 Organization of the Year
Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.