Project Grant 23LFPPMA1184

LED BY GROWING PLACES, THE LOCAL FOOD WORKS IN NORTH CENTRAL MA LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION PROGRAM PROJECT BUILDS ON FIVE YEARS OF PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE NORTH CENTRAL MA (NCMA) FOOD SYSTEM THAT CAN SUPPORT THE REGIONS 200 SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED FARMS, ADDRESS HIGH RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES, AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY VIA A REGIONAL FOOD VALUE CHAIN. THE PROJECT IS FOUNDED ON A NCMA FOOD SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY, REGIONAL FOOD CENTER OPERATING MODEL AND BUSINESS PLAN, AND STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WERE DEVELOPED WITH INPUT FROM 130 DIVERSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT COMPRISE THE LOCAL FOOD WORKS-NCMA COALITION. KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES SEEK TO 1) BUILD A ROBUST MID-TIER VALUE CHAIN THROUGH A NEW REGIONAL FOOD PROCESSING CENTER 2) SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS AND SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES TO EXPAND TO NEW MARKET CHANNELS AND 3) DEVELOP A COORDINATED AND ACCESSIBLE MARKETING AND PROMOTION SYSTEM WITH SUPPORTIVE PURCHASING TECHNOLOGY. AS A RESULT OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES, PRIMARY PROJECT DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES DURING THE GRANT PERIOD INCLUDE:10 NEW MARKET CHANNELS 65 MARKET ACCESS POINTS PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL FOOD WORKS REGIONAL FOOD CENTERS (LFW-RFC) DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM45 NCMA FARMERS REACH NEW MARKET CHANNELS THROUGH THE LFW-RFC15 SMALL FOOD BUSINESS MICROENTERPRISES REACH NEW MARKET CHANNELS THROUGH THE LFW-RFC AND SUPPORT THE CENTERS GROWTH VIA KITCHEN RENTALS FOR PRODUCT PRODUCTION2,370 CONSUMERS PURCHASE RECEIVE LOCALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM THE LFW-RFC GENERATING AN ADDITIONAL 753,131 IN SALES71 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE JOBS CREATED OR MAINTAINED BECAUSE OF THE LFW-RFC IN ADDITION TO SHORT- AND MEDIUM-TERM OUTCOMES, THE PROJECT WILL BOLSTER THE NCMA FOOD SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY, INCREASE EQUITABLE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT SUFFER FROM DISPROPORTIONATE RATES OF NUTRITION RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF NCMA FARMERS AND SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES. THE THREE MAIN PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT OTHER THAT GROWING PLACES WHO SERVES AS THE MID-TIER ENTERPRISE ARE NCMA FARMERS FOCUSING ON THOSE WHO ARE SMALL AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS FOCUSING ON THOSE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE ALTHOUGH ALL WILL BENEFIT. EACH WILL ACHIEVE SHORT TERM BENEFITS RELATED TO KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, SKILLS, AND ACCESS AS WELL AS LONG-TERM BENEFITS RELATED TO FINANCIAL GAINS SAVINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE. TO ACHIEVE PROJECT OBJECTIVES, LOCAL FOOD WORKS IN NORTH CENTRAL MA IS CENTERED ON COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT THROUGH THE LOCAL FOOD WORKS STEERING COMMITTEE AND BROADER COALITION. TOWARDS THIS END, THE PROJECT ENGAGES FARMER-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CENTRAL MASS GROWN AND THE MONTACHUSETT AGRICULTURAL ALLIANCE) TO RECRUIT AND EMBED A STRONG FARMERS VOICE WITHIN ALL PROJECT ACTIVITIES HEAL, A YOUTH AND RESIDENT DRIVEN COALITION FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS THAT WILL SUPPORT CONSUMER AND SMALL FOOD BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT THE NORTH CENTRAL MA HEALTH EQUITY PARTNERSHIP (CHNA9) TO ENGAGE NCMAS ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS TO BUY LOCAL VIA ITS ANCHOR COLLABORATIVE THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL MA TO RECRUIT LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES TO INCREASE LOCAL PURCHASING FROM THE LFW-RFC THE NORTH CENTRAL MA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO PROMOTE THE PROJECT TO LOCAL FOOD BUYERS AND ENTREPRENEURS LOCAL SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT LOCAL PURCHASING AT THE INSTITUTIONAL AND CONSUMER LEVELS AND NCMA MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE THE PROJECT AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES FOR THE REGIONAL FOOD CENTERS CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION. ALSO SUPPORTING THE PROJECT ARE CONSULTANTS WITH EXPERTISE IN FOOD SAFETY, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNICATION WHO WILL BUILD CAPACITY OF PARTNERS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE NCMA FOOD VALUE CHAIN.