Appalachian Center For Economic Networks Inc

BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ENTREP. CTR & BUS INCUB.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE BUILDING RURAL HUNGER FREE COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESSIBLE MARKET MODELS PROJECT IS DESIGNED BY THE APPALACHIA ACCESSIBLE FOOD NETWORK (AAFN) TO EXPAND COMMUNITY ACCESS LOCATIONS IN FIVE COUNTIES OF APPALACHIA OHIO: ATHENS, MORGAN, MEIGS, PERRY AND WASHINGTON. AAFN IS A COLLABORATION OF HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS NON-PROFITS, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FORMED TO ACCELERATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL FOODS INTO APPALACHIAN OHIO COMMUNITIES BY STRENGTHENING ACCESS, PRODUCTION, AGGREGATIONS, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION FOR A FAIR FOOD SYSTEM IN APPALACHIA OHIO. TO CREATE A FAIR FOOD SYSTEM IN APPALACHIA OHIO THE PARTNERSFOCUS ON MARKET DIVEN APPROACHED TO INCREASE LOCAL, HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS THROUGHFARM TO SCHOOL INITIATIVES, COUNTRY FRESH STOPS IN RURAL VILLAGES' CONVENIENCE STORES AND GAS STATIONS, THE COMMUNITY FOOD INITIATIVES' DONATION STATION, FARMERS MARKETS, OUR VEGGIE VAN AND MULTIPLE BUYING CLUB MODELS. CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS ARE THE LINKAGES BETWEEN THE ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS' FACILITIES: THE CHESTERHILL PRODUCE AUCTION, THE RURAL ACTION INCUBATOR FARM, THE ACENET FOOD VENTURES CENTER AND FOOD AND FARM ENTERPRISE CENTER. USING OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FOOD PROCESSING, PRODUCT AND PRODUCE AGGREGATION AND FLEXIBLE DELIVERY LOGISTICS, WE CAN ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY FOOD NEEDS IN NIMBLE AND RESILIENT WAYS.

THE COMMUNITY AND COMMERCE: CULTIVATING MARKET CAPACITY THROUGH PEER EXCHANGE PROJECT FACILITATED BY THE APPALACHIAN CENTER FOR ECONOMIC NETWORKS (ACENET) WILL MANAGE A PEER LEARNING NETWORK TO IDENTIFY AND CATALOGUE SUCCESSFUL MODELS OF COMMUNITY MARKETS ROOTED IN LOCAL OWNERSHIP. MARKET CHAMPIONS IN OHIO AND WEST VIRGINIA, HAVE ACTIVATED LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES TO DESIGN INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY MARKETPLACES THAT LAYER COOPERATIVE VALUES, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PRACTICES AND EXPLICIT VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION. ESTABLISHED AND EMERGENT MARKETS WILL SERVE AS LEARNING CENTERS: LOCAL ROOTS MARKET CAF, KELLER MARKET HOUSE, THE WILD RAMP, MOUNTAIN FARM COMMUNITY GROCERY, AND THE PUBLIC MARKET. THE FOUR ESTABLISHED MARKETPLACES, CURRENTLY SOURCE FROM OVER 500 PRODUCE FARMERS, LIVESTOCK OPERATORS AND VALUE-ADDED PROCESSORS, ENABLING MANY LOCAL VENDORS THE FIRST ENTRY POINT IN SELLING AT A WHOLESALE LEVEL. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL ADDRESS CHALLENGES MANAGERS FACE IN STRENGTHENING EMPLOYEE AND VENDOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGING ACCOUNTING, ONLINE ORDERING AND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS ACCESSING CAPITAL FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND INNOVATING MARKETING AND BRANDING STRATEGIES.AS PROJECT LEAD, ACENET WILL CONVENE MONTHLY ZOOM CALLS, SCHEDULE SITE VISITS WITH THE HOST MARKETS PARTICIPATING AS LEARNING CENTERS, AND CONDUCT RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES AND ADDRESS GAPS FOR PRODUCERS, MARKET MANAGERS AND RESOURCE PROVIDERS. PROJECTS OUTPUTS WILL INCLUDE: SEVEN SITE VISITS AND COHORT CONVENINGS, A MARKET REPLICATION GUIDE COVERING INFORMATION ON HUMAN RESOURCES, VENDOR MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CAPITAL ACCESS, TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION, PROMOTIONS AND MARKET PLANS. INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED THROUGH MULTIMEDIA TRAINING MATERIALS SUCH AS WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, SHORT VIDEOS, AND PODCASTS OPEN TO THE LARGER NETWORK OF FOOD ECONOMY PRACTITIONERS.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

BUS. TECH. ASST. PRGM.

APPALACHIAN BEGINNING FARMERS PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

ADVANCING MOBILE MEAT PROCESSING IN OHIO AND CENTRAL APPALACIA

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANTS

PROGRAM FOR INVESTMENT IN MICROENTREPRENEURS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

PATHWAYS TO INCREASED PRODUCTION, PROMOTION AND PROFITABILITY FOR APPALACHIA OHIO FARMERS MARKET

NEW FOOD COMMONS PROJECT

SEC. 6022 RMAP-RURAL DEVELOP GRANTS (MAN)

SECD RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COOP RBEG GRANT

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

GROWING MARKET MOMENTUM A 45 YEAR OLD