Cooperative Agreement 20237041739172

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GEORGIA FARMLINK: AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH FARMERS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND ALIGNING OPPORTUNITIES IS A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE COHESION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES AND BUILD FARMER CAPACITY THROUGH INTENSIVE FARM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND A TRAIN THE TRAINER APPROACH TO BUILDING FARMER PEER LEADERSHIP. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, GEORGIA FARMLINK AND ITS PARTNERS WILL IMPLEMENT A ROBUST AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT WILL ANCHOR GA FARMLINK AS IT GROWS ITS CAPACITY TO OFFER FARMERS A FULL SUITE OF BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES. EACH YEAR, GEORGIA FARMLINK AND ITS PARTNERS WILL RECRUIT 6 FARMERS TO ENGAGE IN THE CURRICULUM, TAILORING THE COURSE TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH FARMER COHORT. AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES YEAR-OVER-YEAR, FARMERS WILL REMAIN IN COHORT TO SUPPORT RECRUITMENT, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING TO OTHER FARMERS IN THEIR NETWORK, GROWING THE OVERALL REACH AND CAPACITY OF GEORGIA FARMLINK TO SERVE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS IN GEORGIA.THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROGRAM IS A COURSE CALLED THE RESILERATOR AND A COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS RESILIENCE SELF-ASSESSMENT. THE RESILERATOR AND THE BUSINESS RESILIENCE SELF-ASSESSMENT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS BY POPPY DAVIS WORKING THROUGH SAGE, CALIFORNIA FARMLINK, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, ARCADIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, WALLACE CENTER AND OTHERS.THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS BY ENGAGING THEM AS LEADERS AND PARTNERS IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM, BUILDING DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH TA PARTNERS AND USDA AGENCIES, AND PREPARING PARTICIPATING FARMERS FOR PEER-TO-PEER INSTRUCTION AND LEADERSHIP.