Innovation Cafe

What makes the Innovation Cafe special? It’s operated and staffed by people who are blind and visually impaired.

The unemployment rate for blind and visually impaired adults is a shocking 70%. The Innovation Cafe is designed with BVI people in mind and is equipped with all the accommodations they need to be successful.

The Cafe is part of the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) which allows blind or visually impaired people to operate their own business in a state-owned building. In 1936 the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. Section 107 et seq.) established the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program, more commonly known as the Business Enterprise Program (BEP). Here in Vermont, the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) is the state licensing agency administering this program. BEP is a self-employment program. The federal and state laws governing this program require that candidates are legally blind, U.S. Citizens, and must complete our training program.

Licensed Operators are trained to run one of DBVI’s food service facilities as self-employed entrepreneurs, keeping 100% of the profits! Our facilities consist of cafe and vending machine operations, located in federal and state buildings throughout Vermont. Qualified candidates are assigned to facilities as they become available.Come grab breakfast, lunch, or coffee with us!

Photo cred: Andrea DiMedio Photography