LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL ENHANCE THE NORTHWEST FOOD HUB NETWORKS CAPABILITIES AND EXPAND ITS REACH WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONAL FOOD MARKET. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE PROCESSING CAPACITY FOR THE NETWORK IDENTIFYING AND DEVELOPING A RANGE OF VALUEADDED FOOD PRODUCTS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INSTITUTIONS ALONGSIDE THE CREATION OF EFFECTIVE MARKETING MATERIALS TO PROMOTE THESE NEW OFFERINGS. THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT 211 SMALL TO MIDSIZE FAMILY FARMS CONNECTED TO THE NETWORK BOLSTERING THEIR SALES AND OVERALL ECONOMIC VIABILITY. KEY ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STREAMLINED ORDERING PLATFORM AND THE EXPANSION OF PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE NETWORK. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN SALES FOR THE NETWORK RESULTING IN IMPROVED MARKET ACCESS FOR PARTICIPATING FARMERS. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH BEST PRACTICES FOR PROCESSING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DISSEMINATING THIS KNOWLEDGE TO INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE. THIS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE FOOD SYSTEM CONNECTING PRODUCERS WITH INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS AND SUPPORTING THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE NETWORK AND ITS ASSOCIATED FARMING BUSINESSES.