Introducing:

The Value Chain Cluster (VC2)

Initiative

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

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

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

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

Geographic Area Served

Cluster Counties ServedDoddridge-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

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

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

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

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

Examples

Assistance with HACCP Plans

Assistance with Recipe Formulation

Assistance with Facility Design & Compliance with State & Federal Regulations & 3rd Party Audits

Website Development & Label Design

Transition to Organic Certification

VC2 Initiative for Food & Farm Businesses Production • Processing • Aggregation • Distribution

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

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

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

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