Project Grant 20237001740874

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OFEED WILL PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR 100 BEGINNING, SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED (BSD) ORGANIC FARM BUSINESSES. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE FARMERS AT DIFFERENT PHASES OF THEIR FIRST 10-YEARS OF OPERATION FROM PLANNING TO LAUNCH TO EXPANSION AND MATURITY. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS REFLECT TAILORED ASSISTANCE AT EACH STAGE:OBJECTIVE 1: PLAN & PILOT- 60 (25/YEAR) ASPIRING FARMERS GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARE FOR BUSINESS LAUNCH IN A 1-YEAR COURSE, OF WHOM 30 GRADUATE AND TEST LAUNCH ON ½ ACRE.OBJECTIVE 2: ESTABLISH AND EXPAND - ANOTHER 30 START-UP FARMS (LAUNCHED IN 2020-2022) BUILD CAPACITY AND EXPAND, 16 OF WHOM WILL TRANSITION FROM ALBA ONTO THEIR OWN LAND.OBJECTIVE 3: MOVE ON AND MATURE - 40 ALBA ALUMNI FARMS (LAUNCHED IN 2013-2019) AND OTHER REGIONAL BEGINNING SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS ARE STRENGTHENED THROUGH FINANCING AND FOOD SAFETY AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS NEEDS.OBJECTIVE 4: FACILITATING RESOURCE ACCESS - ASSIST 70 BEGINNING SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARM OWNERS GAIN ACCESS TO USDA AND PRIVATE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAMS TO FUND AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AVERAGING $40,000 PER FARMER.60 FARMS WILL BE TRAINED, LAUNCHED AND INCUBATED ON ALBA'S 100-ACRE ORGANIC FARM AND TRAINING FACILITY. ANOTHER 40 INDEPENDENT ALUMNI FARMS OPERATING IN THE REGION, WILL BE ASSISTED BY ALBA AND OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN PRODUCTION, BUSINESS COACHING, LENDING AND LAND MATCHING. OFEED WILL PROVIDE A NEW FOCUS ON RESOURCE ACCESS AND INTRODUCE NEW TRAININGS ON, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND COMPUTER AND FINANCIAL LITERACY.