The Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center provides sustainable and equitable regional network coordination and localized business support to grow farm and food businesses throughout the Northeast. We envision a resilient Northeast food system with informed and connected networks, viable businesses, and accessible markets that strengthens communities and economies.
The Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center aims to:
Coordinate a regional network of Northeast system partners and connect with other Regional Food Business Centers nationwide.
Increase the capacity of regional supply chains to identify, procure, aggregate, market and distribute products to major Northeast markets.
Increase the amount and diversity of regionally grown products and food businesses by providing technical assistance and financial support.
Build sustainability into the Regional Food Business Center activities to ensure continued growth and resiliency.
Meaningfully integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout all Northeast Regional Food Business Center programs and activities.
Technical Assistance Directory
A searchable index of organizations offering technical assistance resources for farms and food businesses throughout the Northeast
Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center Funding (nasda.org)
Competitive grants offered to Technical Assistance providers, farms, and food businesses through the Northeast Regional Food Business Center
Farm and Food Business Courses
A free, online, self-paced, accessible curricula offering entrepreneurship and business development training for farms and food businesses
About the Regional Food Business Center Program
Through the Regional Food Business Center program (usda.gov) , USDA established a total of 12 Regional Food Business Centers that will serve all areas of the country with a focus towards historically underinvested communities and will provide coordination, technical assistance and capacity building for farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses.
The Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center will develop and amplify local and regional supply chains, with a strong emphasis on building equity and community resiliency into these systems in 11 states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont – and the District of Columbia. NASDA member collaborators include the Northeast State Departments of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
The $30 million award will direct funding into two grant streams – Technical Assistance and Business Builder subawards – to expand production/processing, create new products, encourage food hub development, and/or increase supply chain coordination and access for producers and food businesses. A Community Advisory Council representing the diverse agricultural and community needs within the region will be assembled to guide and govern the Center and its work.
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