Download Flyer (PDF) | Download Press Release (PDF)

Event Description

In St. Louis’s Metro East area, a group of organizations are teaming up to help build local economic resilience and diversity in the face of climate change. People interested in building a vision of the future where business models and lifestyles are good for humanity, the climate and the economy are encouraged to participate. Speakers and panelists for Part 1 of this 3-part kickoff event will discuss the potential, current status and challenges of local regenerative agriculture, “a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems.” A concurrent launch of the Metro East’s CLimate Economy Action Network (CLEAN) will help individuals to get involved with existing activities and to find their niche for their passions and expertise. This event is being held online to keep people safe and healthy while helping to build an attainable and realistic vision of the future where everyone thrives authentically.

Confluence Climate Collaborative

Metro East Community Sponsors

Energy Resources Group

Federal Funding sources for local farms and local food systems

Thanks to Cindy Winland at the Just Transition Fund for this helpful information.

• EPA Local Foods Local Places Local Foods, Local Places supports locally led, community-driven efforts to protect air and water quality, preserve open space and farmland, boost economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses, improve access to healthy local food, and promote childhood wellness. Partner communities have opened year-round, downtown markets featuring foods from local farmers, planned cooperative grocery stores, created centrally located community kitchens or food hubs to aggregate and market local foods, started business incubators to help entrepreneurs launch food-related businesses, made it easier for people to walk or bicycle to farmers markets and local restaurants, and made healthy local food accessible to families, including via SNAP, developed community gardens.
• USDA-NIFA: The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Formerly known as the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program (FINI): To support projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase. The program will test strategies that could contribute to our understanding of how best to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Closing date: May 18, 2020

• USDA-AMS: Local Food Promotion Program The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Closing date: May 26, 2020

• USDA-NIFA: Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program: In FY 2020 and FY 2021, NIFA’s CFP intends to solicit applications and fund two types of grants. The types are entitled (1) Community Food Projects (CFP) and (2) Planning Projects (PP). The purpose of the CFP is to support the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. Closing date: June 3, 2020

• USDA NIFA updates  National Institute of Food and Agriculture

• USDA Value Added Producer Grants in Illinois The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative or are proposing a mid-tier value chain.
• Rural Cooperative Development in Illinois The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on gov.
• USDA Rural Business Development Grants This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

• UDSA Farm Loan Discovery Tool

Examples of other organizations and their sources of funding for farms and local food systems

• Sprouting Farms Talcott, WV. Sprouting Farms seeks to develop new and existing farm businesses and increase local food production in the New and Greenbrier River Valleys by laying the groundwork for sustainable farm businesses. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission (EDA), One Foundation, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, USDA, Summers County Farmland Protection Board, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and the Just Transition Fund.

• Appalachian Sustainable Development Bristol, VA.  We help family farmers stay on local farms by connecting them to strong markets of different types and sizes. We provide them with the necessary training, tools, and resources for success. We help families learn about and explore the idea of eating fresh, healthy food and where to access local products. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission (EDA), BB&T bank, First Tennessee Bank, Blue Ridge Beverage, Appalachian Region Conservation & Development, and the Just Transition Fund.

• Colorado Farm and Food Alliance Southwest Colorado. The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance networks family farms, winemakers, brewers, food producers, chefs and restaurateurs to cultivate and strengthen the local food movement, to support sustainable rural communities, and to provide a platform for effective climate and conservation advocacy. Our partners and supporters are businesses and associations, family farms and markets, local restaurants and producers, rural food and economic groups and the Just Transition Fund.
• Croatan Institute http://croataninstitute.org/total-portfolio/publication/food-system-finance-webinar Durham, NC. The Clean Portfolio Project, Croatan Institute, and the Organic Agriculture Revitalization Strategy (OARS) hosted a webinar exploring models to finance resilient food systems and regenerative, organic agriculture across asset classes.  On this webinar, learn how investors working in various asset classes, such as fixed income, private debt, and real assets, are making food and agriculture investments that generate positive impacts on communities and the climate. The conversation will begin with a framing discussion on new mechanisms for financing “regenerative” agriculture with Delta Institute, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Croatan Institute featuring investors representing varying asset classes, including Community Capital Management, Farmland LP, and Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT.
  View the webinar on demand.
• Also Croatan Institute New USDA supported PACE-like financing mechanism for regenerative agricultureand Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture across Asset Classes Organic Agriculture Revitalization Strategy

Other resources to consider

• Wallace Center’s Pasture Project covers Illinois for grass-fed beef
• Savanna Institute works on agroforestry
• Understanding Ag does great outreach / education
• IL Stewardship Alliance does general sustainable ag work