1. Infrastructure for a Local Food Economy
ACEnet Food Ventures Center

2. Reinventing the Local Food Economy
The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks
is a regional entrepreneurship and economic development organization (501c3) located in Athens, Ohio.
ACEnet builds the capacity of communities to
network, work together and innovate to create a dynamic, sustainable regional economy with opportunities for all.

3. Where We Work
Rolling foothills

4. Where We Work
Small towns

5. Clients also come from other parts of Ohio and adjacent states
Where We Work
Primary Service Area
Appalachia Counties
Clients also come from other parts of Ohio and adjacent states

6. ACEnet Strategies Training & technical assistance
Business incubation & infrastructure development
Access to capital services, partnerships & referrals
Capacity building through product innovation, branding & adoption of technology

7. Food Sector Development

8. At the crossroads of local food economies New Economic Opportunities
Food Security for All
Environmental
Sustainability

9. Farms & Foodways
Food & farm microenterprises
are part of our heritage

10. Long Tradition of Markets
Athens Farmers Market over 37 years old

11. Local Food Movement Partners
…cycling towards a local food economy
Reinventing Local Infrastructure & Systems
Nurturing Food & Farm Entrepreneurs
Enhancing Food Security

12. Reinventing Local Infrastructure…
Reinventing Local Infrastructure
Market Programs Distribution
1. Regional brands Central warehouses
2. Local brokers Produce auctions
3. Online marketing Expand farmers market
4. Market pavilions/sheds
Production & Processing
1. Farm incubators
2. Expansion of shared-use processing facilities: produce, meat, dairy, bakery
3. Co-packing businesses emerge
4. Policy & regulatory obstacles alleviated for smaller scale producers

13. Shared-use Commercial Kitchen Facility
Design Issues
Operational use
Licensing
Equipment needs
Management/staffing capacity

14. Food Ventures Center Timeline Highlights
Raise funding for facility
1993-on Develop services & programming for food & farm entrepreneurs
Close on property – begin renovation
Open FV Center April 1996
Start raising funds for expansion
Facility expansion complete
2004 Seafood HACCP & ODA Meat license
Funding Partners
USDA – Rural Development
EDA – Dept of Commerce
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture
Local Bank Loans

15. Food Ventures Center Facility Specs
12,000 sq ft shared manufacturing facility
10 offices
3 loading docks
Shipping and receiving
Conference and training room
Retail space
Storage for dry, refrigerated & frozen goods
Reception, fax, copier, computers

16. Processing & Distribution
Approximately 85 tenants in Food Ventures
--farmers, specialty food & foodservice businesses

17. Processing Operations
Bakery operations
Thermal processing
Foodservice
Frozen food
Dry packaging
Pasta production
ODA meat license
Seafood processing
Warehousing
Types of Operations & Licenses

18. Bakery Operations 12 Convection Ovens Dough Roller / Bread Slicer
2 Proofers 5 Larger Capacity Mixers

19. Thermal Processing 185 gallon cooking capacity 250 gallon pre-mix vat
Semi-automated Production
Pulper-Finisher
Vertical Chopper/Mixer

20. Cham’s Lebanese Cuisine
Food Service
Cham’s Lebanese Cuisine
At ACEnet Her Own Restaurant

21. Warehousing and Distribution

22. Facility Rates & Leases
Hourly rates
Rates based on production areas
Customized Leases
Programs for Low-income Users
3 Tier Rate Approach for Service Area
Equipment agreements

23. Nurturing Food & Farm Entrepreneurs…
Market access Distribution channels
1. Market partners Local distribution networks
2. Buy Local campaigns New delivery businesses
3. Training programs Online technologies applied
Production & Processing
1. Community gardeners evolve into local food entrepreneurs
2. Programs & agencies assist new & expanding farmers
3. Food & farm entrepreneurs have access to subsidized infrastructure/land
4. Policy & regulatory obstacles alleviated for smaller scale producers

24. Tenants– Many Start-ups primarily low-income entrepreneurs

25. Established Businesses Can Grow Significantly – Sales, Employees & Market Reach

26. Farm Families – Focus on Value Adding

27. Specialty Food Producers

28. Regional Flare

29. Regional Food Branding
Ads, inserts & demos

30. Regional Brands
Many New Food We Love Products

31. Accomplishments The Food We Love™
Over 50 specialty food producers & farmers are featured in the Athens Kroger — Food We Love program.
Shoppers can find over 200 different products in every food category across the store.
ACEnet brokers & distributes Food We Love™ product lines to stores in Athens, Nelsonville, Middleport, Pomeroy, Cambridge & Shawnee.
Seven regional grocery stores showcase Food We Love™ in the signature retail display units