Market Analysis Summary
The population base for Chittenden County is 147,000 and growing. Approximately 20% of the county's population can be characterized as low-income. This represents 30,000 residents that are potentially in need of services from the food banks, and therefore The Root Center.
This group can be broken down into three segments:
- Seniors (8,200);
- Individual Adults (7,800);
- Children (14,000).
Children represent 45% of the county residents in need of The Root Center’s services. We have identified children and their families as our primary target customers. It is projected that the number of low-income families will increase in Chittenden County by 20% over the next four years. By 2012, children will represent 52% of The Root Center’s client base. With effective intervention, the debilitating effects of hunger and malnutrition can be eliminated. Consequently, the families will be better able to provide their children a chance for a prosperous future.
Citizens are concerned with the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and with rising rates of pollution. The Root Center seeks to offset this issue by demonstrating conservation of energy through green building, reliable sources of clean energy, and sustainable methods of agriculture that do not negatively impact the surrounding ecosystem.