1. Introducing: The Value Chain Cluster (VC2) Initiative VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

2. Program Goals Deliver hands‐on technical assistance and coaching services to strengthen local food and farm businesses in four regional “value chain clusters” of West Virginia. VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

3. Who’s who Administering the program: Natural Capital Investment Fund Shepherdstown, WV Coordinating start-up: West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, Oak Hill, WV West Virginia Community Development Hub VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

4. Who’s who  Steering Committee includes:  WV Small Farm Center  WV Dept. of Education – Office of Child Nutrition  WV Dept. of Education – Office of Career & Technical Instructions  Small Business Development Center (Region I)  WV Dept. of Agriculture  Collaborative for a 21st Century Appalachia  … and others

5. Geographic Area Served ClusterCounties Served Doddridge-Tyler- Ritchie-Gilmer area Doddridge, Tyler, Ritchie, Gilmer Greenbrier Valley area Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, and Raleigh counties Mid-Ohio Valley area Calhoun, Clay, Roane, and Wirt counties Tygart Valley area Barbour, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Upshur counties 17 West Virginia Counties covering about 1/3 of the state

6. Local leaders… Greenbrier Valley EDC Heart and Hand, Inc. Tygart Valley Growers Association Roane County WVU Extension Doddridge County WVU Extension Mountain State Naturals VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

7. What does the program offer?  Technical assistance valued at $3,000 to $5,000 per business or group  Larger amounts for feasibility studies  Use competitive bid process to select consultants  Consultants paid directly by program VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

8. What kind of help can I get? If you live in the 17 counties, and are a producer, processor, aggregator 0r distributor of local food, you could apply for: VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

9. What kind of help can I get?  Business planning assistance  Legal assistance (e.g contracts, incorporation)  Technology to access markets  Marketing assistance  Affordable loans through Natural Capital Investment Fund VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

10. Examples  Assistance with HACCP Plans  Assistance with Recipe Formulation  Assistance with Facility Design & Compliance with State & Federal Regulations & 3 rd Party Audits  Website Development & Label Design  Transition to Organic Certification VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

11. Examples  Energy Audits  Assistance with REAP Cost Share Grant Applications and Other Programs.  Set-up of Accounting Systems  Market Assessment and Planning  Feasibility study for a new slaughterhouse VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

12. Organizations that serve several businesses, such as co-ops or farmers markets, can apply too. VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

13. Examples  Needs assessment and feasibility study to expand meat processing in a region  Design for regional local food branding campaign  Trainings and support for farmer groups to aggregate and sell to volume buyers VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution

14. So, how do I apply? Contact: Marten Jenkins, Natural Capital Investment Fund mjenkins@conservationfund.org 304.870.2207 VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production Processing Aggregation Distribution