HUDSON, NY — SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 — The Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation’s (HVADC) Farm and Food Funding Accelerator Program (FFFA) is an opportunity for farm and food enterprise owners to develop the necessary skills and materials to build their businesses and approach financial sources. Applications for the intensive training program are now being accepted at www.hvadc.org through September 15.
The FFFA is designed to help farmers and food entrepreneurs scale their business, build sales, and access financial sources. Launched in 2016 with a class of nine Peers, this second FFFA program will be a six to eight month curriculum beginning in November 2018, and culminating with participants having the opportunity to pitch potential funders in spring 2019. Through customized programing, FFFA participants will engage in expert instruction, one-on-one counseling and technical assistance, group interaction and industry networking events to learn how to position their business models in anticipation of speaking with potential funders.
“We often see that local food entrepreneurs who are on the verge of scaling their businesses struggle with finding access to capital and being prepared to present their business models to prospective funders, said Mary Ann Johnson, HVADC Deputy Director. “Through the FFFA program, participants will have the opportunity to connect with the growing network of funders that support local food systems through methods such as equity, loans, grants crowdfunding, as well as our HVADC Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Loan Fund,” she continued.
FFFA applicants must be a farm, food, fiber or agriculture-dependent business having their home office, farm or production facility in the Hudson Valley, and sourcing the majority of their product ingredients from the region, as well as the majority of their labor force. They must be able to make a commitment to the time and resources required of the training program and to commit the same to future FFFA participants as a peer or mentor. There is no cost to participate.
The FFFA program supports the creation and growth of robust regional supply chains by providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to be successful .Training sessions will be conducted by HVADC, its industry partners, industry professionals, and institutional and retail stakeholders in the Hudson Valley food system. In addition to HVADC instructors, Peers from the 2016 FFFA class will participate as mentors and counselors. Sylke Chesterfield, a business consultant and certified coach of Chesterfield Advantage, has been named the FFFA Project Manager. The Valley Table magazine is the media sponsor of the FFFA program.
The first two FFFA industry networking events have already been named, with the new class of Peers scheduled to present their products at The Valley Table’s Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Fall Kick-Off being held October 22 at Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery in Gardiner, and at the Taste of New York’s October 30 event at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor. Combined, the two events are anticipated to attract over 200 food industry leaders, chefs and media.
Applications for the FFFA program will be accepted until September 15. There is a nominal application fee of $15. Funding for FFFA was made possible by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency.
Additional details and application materials may be found at www.hvadc.org. Questions regarding the FFBA program may be directed to 518-432-5360 or accelerator@hvadc.org.
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About HVADC:
The HVADC is the region’s sole economic development agency with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the Hudson Valley. It assists both new and existing agri-businesses such as farms, food businesses and food distributors, by providing technical and business consultation and resources. The non-profit promotes balanced, market-based solutions that lead to enhanced agricultural entrepreneurship, rural economic growth and community enhancement. For more information, please visit: www.Hvadc.org. HVADC produces a monthly-newsletter The Cultivator featuring its initiatives, partnerships and the businesses of its clients. For more information, visit: www.Hvadc.org.
— HVADC
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