introducing: the value chain cluster (vc2) initiative vc2 initiative for food & farm businesses...

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Introducing: The Value Chain Cluster (VC2) Initiative ative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing • Aggregation Di

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Introducing:The Value Chain Cluster

(VC2) Initiative

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Program Goals

Deliver hands‐on technical assistance and coaching services to strengthen local food and farm businesses in four regional “value chain clusters” of West Virginia.

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Who’s who

Administering the program:Natural Capital Investment Fund

Shepherdstown, WVCoordinating start-up:

West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, Oak Hill, WV

West Virginia Community Development Hub

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Who’s who Steering Committee includes:

WV Small Farm Center

WV Dept. of Education – Office of Child Nutrition

WV Dept. of Education – Office of Career & Technical Instructions

Small Business Development Center (Region I)

WV Dept. of Agriculture

Collaborative for a 21st Century Appalachia

… and others

Geographic Area Served

Cluster Counties Served

Doddridge-Tyler-Ritchie-Gilmer area

Doddridge, Tyler, Ritchie, Gilmer

Greenbrier Valley area

Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Raleigh counties

Mid-Ohio Valley area

Calhoun, Clay, Roane, and Wirt counties

Tygart Valley area

Barbour, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Upshur counties17 West Virginia Counties covering about

1/3 of the state

Local leaders…

Greenbrier Valley EDC Heart and Hand, Inc. Tygart Valley Growers Association Roane County WVU Extension Doddridge County WVU Extension Mountain State Naturals

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

What does the program offer?

Technical assistance valued at $3,000 to $5,000 per business or group

Larger amounts for feasibility studies Use competitive bid process to select

consultants Consultants paid directly by program

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

What kind of help can I get?

If you live in the 17 counties,and are a producer,

processor, aggregator 0r distributor of local food, you

could apply for:

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

What kind of help can I get?

Business planning assistance Legal assistance (e.g contracts,

incorporation) Technology to access markets Marketing assistance Affordable loans through Natural Capital

Investment Fund

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Examples Assistance with HACCP Plans Assistance with Recipe Formulation Assistance with Facility Design &

Compliance with State & Federal Regulations & 3rd Party Audits

Website Development & Label Design Transition to Organic Certification

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Examples

Energy Audits Assistance with REAP Cost Share Grant

Applications and Other Programs. Set-up of Accounting Systems Market Assessment and Planning Feasibility study for a new

slaughterhouse

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Organizations that serve several businesses, such as co-ops or farmers markets,

can apply too.

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

Examples

Needs assessment and feasibility study to expand meat processing in a region

Design for regional local food branding campaign

Trainings and support for farmer groups to aggregate and sell to volume buyers

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

So, how do I apply?

Contact: Marten Jenkins, Natural Capital Investment

[email protected]

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution