Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment Inc

SYRACUSE REFUGEE IDA PROGRAM

REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SELF-EMPOWERMENT (RISE), THROUGH ITS SYRACUSE REFUGEE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM (SYRAP), WILL IMPLEMENT A THREE-YEAR, LARGE STANDARD GRANT, IN COLLABORATION WITH (1) CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, (2) SALT CITY HARVEST FARM, AND (3) MATTHEW 25 FARM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND MENTORING WITH REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT BEGINNING FARMERS WHO WISH TO PURSUE SELF-EMPLOYMENT THROUGH SPECIALTY CROP VEGETABLE FARMING. THE PROJECT'S LONG-TERM GOAL IS FOR BEGINNING FARMERS IN GREATER SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, INCLUDING SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT BEGINNING FARMERS, TO ENTER, ESTABLISH, BUILD, AND MANAGE SUCCESSFUL FARM ENTERPRISES. THE PROJECT'S THREE (3) OBJECTIVES DERIVE FROM AND ARE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THIS GOAL AND THAT OF THE BFRDP PROGRAM. OBJECTIVE 1: TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SYRACUSE AREA REFUGEES AND OTHER LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO CHOOSE FARMING AS AN INCOME-GENERATING OCCUPATION, FROM 30 AT PROJECT START TO 45 BY THEEND OF THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT. OBJECTIVE 2: TO ENHANCE 33 FARMERS' KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION, FARM BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND MARKETING AND PROVIDE THEM WITH RELATED INCUBATOR EXPERIENCE TO SHOW MEASURABLE, YEAR-OVER-YEAR SUCCESS. OBJECTIVE 3: TO FACILITATE THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF AT LEAST 10 PARTICIPATING FARMERS' ENTERPRISES BY OFFERING TOOLS AND EXTENDING RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE LONG-TERM BUSINESS SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

SYRACUSE ETHNIC COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FOR UKRAINIANS

REFUGEE ASSET BUILDING AND IDA PROGRAM

SYRACUSE REFUGEE FAMILY CHILDCARE MICROENTERPRISE PROGRAM

RISE REFUGEE YOUTH SERVICES: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, EMPOWERMENT

REFUGEE SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMMING

EXPANDING AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEES: SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF SYRACUSE INCUBATOR FARM PROGRAM

AFGHAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE SELF-EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK IS A REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY, AND HAS RECEIVED NEARLY 3,327 REFUGEES BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2013 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2018. THE PRIMARY COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN INCLUDE SOMALIA, BHUTAN, BURMA, IRAQ, AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, WITH 27 ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES REPRESENTED. SYRACUSE, NY IS A TEMPERATE CLIMATE WITH WARM, HUMID SUMMERS AND LONG COLD WINTERS WITH OVER 100 INCHES OF SNOW ON AVERAGE PER YEAR. GOAT MEAT HAS BEEN A STAPLE FOR PROTEIN AMONG EASTERN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES FOR CENTURIES. SYRACUSE HAS AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF DAIRY GOATS FOR CHEESE MAKING, BUT NOT FOR MEAT CONSUMPTION. THE NEAREST AVAILABLE GOAT MEAT FARM THAT ALLOWS SELF-BUTCHER AND THE USE OF SNAP BENEFITS IS 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF SYRACUSE. THE DEMAND FOR GOAT MEAT NEAR SYRACUSE, NY HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS IN CORRELATION WITH THE RISE OF THE REFUGEE POPULATION. HOWEVER, THE SUPPLY FOR GOAT MEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE DEMAND. BARRIERS SUCH AS LIMITED ENGLISH-PROFICIENCY, CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, LIMITED WATER ACCESS, AND COMPLICATED BUREAUCRACY ARE IMPEDIMENTS TO MORE REFUGEES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK SUCH AS GOATS AS A MEANS OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ENRICHMENT. THROUGH THE MATTHEW 25 GOAT FARM PROJECT, THE ORGANIZATION REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SELF-EMPOWERMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MATTHEW 25 FARM WILL PROVIDE 200 REFUGEE FAMILIES IN SYRACUSE, NY WITH FRESH GOAT MEAT, AND PROVIDE EIGHT TO THIRTY REFUGEES WITH FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, FARM SAFETY, GOAT HUSBANDRY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, TAX PREPARATION, AND BUSINESS PLANNING CLASSES. TWO REFUGEES WILL BE TRAINED AND HIRED TO BECOME FARM OPERATION MANAGER TRAINEES AND ONE WILL BECOME THE FARM OPERATION MANAGER AT THE END OF YEAR FOUR TO TAKE OVER THE GOAT MEAT FARM LOCATED ON MATTHEW 25 FARM IN TULLY, NY. THE OTHER TRAINEE WILL STAY ON TO BECOME THE FARM OPERATIONS MANAGER ASSISTANT. A PREVIOUS DAIRY BARN WILL BE RENOVATED TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 200 GOATS AND A HEATED AND SANITARY PROCESSING ROOM WILL BE ADDED FOR SELF-BUTCHER. EBT MACHINES WILL BE ACQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO NEED TO USE SNAP BENEFITS. M25GF WILL ADDRESS THE LIMITED ACCESS TO CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND AFFORDABLE FOODS FOR REFUGEES ENTERING SYRACUSE; MEET THE FOOD NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS THROUGH IMPROVING ACCESS TO FOOD AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE; INCREASE THE SELF-RELIANCE OF COMMUNITIES IN PROVIDING FOR THE FOOD NEEDS OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITIES; PROMOTE COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO LOCAL FOOD ACCESS, FARM, AND NUTRITION ISSUES; MEET SPECIFIC STATE, LOCAL, AND NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL NEEDS INCLUDING NEEDS RELATING TO: EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF A PROJECT AND PLANNING FOR LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.

SYRACUSE REFUGEE AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP

REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SELF EMPOWERMENT (RISE) PROPOSES THIS LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION PLANNING GRANT PROJECT TO CREATE INTENTIONAL PROCEDURES THAT SUPPORT THE 15 SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS CURRENTLY IN THE FARMING PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THEIR FARM BUSINESSES AND ACCESS PREVIOUSLY UNTAPPED AND INACCESSIBLE MARKET OUTLETS. THIS THREE PHASE PROJECT WILL (1) ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF RISE CREATING A LOCAL FOOD HUB TO PROMOTE THE FARM BUSINESSES OF THE PARTICIPATING REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT FARMERS (2) ASSUMING THE PROJECT IS DEEMED FEASIBLE, CREATE BUSINESS PLANS FOR THE CURRENT FARMERS AND FOR FARMERS RECRUITED IN THE FUTURE (3) CREATE A HUB LOGISTICAL PLAN. ALL THREE PHASES WILL BE COMPLETED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOD WORKS GROUP, A PROFESSIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS CONSULTANCY. ASSUMING FEASIBILITY, A FOOD HUB WILL BE CREATED TO AGGREGATE, STORE, MARKET, AND DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE GROWN LOCALLY BY THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THE RESULTING MODEL WOULD ALLOW FARMERS TO SELL DIRECTLY TO THE FOOD HUB, NOT ONLY PROVIDING A NEW SOURCE OF LOCAL FOOD TO THE GREATER SYRACUSE AREA, BUT ALSO PROVIDING FARMERS WITH THE STABILITY NECESSARY FOR UTILIZING THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO SUSTAINABLY INCREASE INCOME AND PRODUCTION. FARMERS WILL BE EXTENSIVELY TRAINED TO SCALE PRODUCTION APPROPRIATELY AND FOLLOW CAREFUL GUIDELINES TO MEET MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARDS. THE PROJECT OUTCOMES WILL BE INCREASED PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION, FARMER EMPOWERMENT, AND REVENUE GENERATION FOR THE 15 FARMERS IN THE PROGRAM AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT FARMERS RECRUITED TO JOIN THE PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE.