In Her Shoes Inc

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE EXPANSION AND INTEGRATION PROJECT IS A TWO STATE PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO 90 NEW AND BEGINNER WOMEN AND BLACK FARMERS EACH YEAR IN WEST GEORGIA AND THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS INCREASE WOMEN AND BLACK OPERATED FARM BUSINESSES THROUGH FARM BUSINESS EXPANSION AND NEW MARKET ACCESS. THE PROJECT WIL ALSO LEAD TO INCREASED FRESH FOOD IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE THREE YEAR PROJECT BUDGET IS $741,894 WITH 90 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET BEING USED TO SERVE WOMEN AND BLACK FARMERS.PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY, MINORITY COOPERATIVE OF SUSTAINABLE GROWERS, SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTE, AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST AND OTHER LOCAL FARM BUSINESSES WHO WILL DELIVER AN EXTENSIVE FARM TO MARKET TRAINING PROGRAM.THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE:1. OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT2. SUPPORT FARM BUSINESS EXPANSION3. SUPPORT MARKET INTEGRATION4. ACCESS MARKET OPPORTUNITIESEXPECTED OUTCOMES OVER THE 3 YEAR PROJECT TERM INCLUDE:60 FARMERS RECEIVEPRODUCE SAFETY TRAINING CERTIFICATION50 PARTICIPANTS CREATE FARM SAFETY PLANS90 INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE OF FARM BUSINESS EXPANSION AND MARKET INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES75 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS DIVERSIFY CROP USING LESSONS LEARNED80 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AQCUIRED THROUGH THE PROJECT80 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS GAIN ACCESS TO NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES50 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS ACCESS USDA FSA OR USDA PROGRAMS55 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS INCREASE FARM INCOME THROUGH NEW MARKET ACCESS AND EXPANSION BY THE END OF THE PROJECT TERM60 PERCENT OF FARMERS RECEIVING A GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES FARM AUDIT RECEIVE APPROVAL

TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN SUSTAINABILITY AMONG SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, LAND ACCESS AND RETENTION, FARM BUSINESS EXPANSION, AND NEW MARKET INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROJECT PROPOSES RESEARCH RESULTING IN ENHANCED SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE FARM BUSINESS EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY MODEL SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF POULTRY PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING FOR RETAIL MARKETS IN THE DELTA. THE MODEL WILL CONSIST OF RESOURCES TO MITIGATE BARRIERS SUCH AS LACK OF INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, SCALABILITY, ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND MARKET ACCESS. THE RESEARCH WILLANALYZE MARKET DEMAND AND FEASIBILITY, TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF POULTRY PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING INTEGRATION INTO SMALL AND MID SIZE FARM BUSINESS PLANS.THE PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO YIELD TWO SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE IHS FARM BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM:• A REPORT ANALYZING SMALL AND MID-SIZE POULTRY FARMERS' SALES AND PROFITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY THAT CAN HELP INFORM DECISION MAKING.• A SCALABLE MODEL THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE FARMERS FOR INTEGRATION AND/OR EXPANSION INTO THE POULTRY RETAIL MARKET

THE INCREASING AGRIBUSINESS VIABILITY AMONG WOMEN AND MINORITIES PROJECT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO A MINIMUM OF 20 NEW AND BEGINNER WOMEN AND MINORITY, PARTICULARLY BLACKS, FARMERS EACH YEAR IN SOUTH FULTON, DOUGLAS, CARROLL AND COBB COUNTIES. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC VIABILITY AMONG THIS TARGET GROUP THROUGH CROP DIVERSIFICATION AND EXPOSURE TO NEW MARKETS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BFRDP GOALS. THE PROJECT BUDGET $98,587 ANNUALLY WITH A MINIMUM OF 90 PERCENT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT BUDGET BEING USED TO SERVE OUR TARGET GROUP. EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE AWARD WILL BE USED TO FUND TRAINING THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL FARM PROGRAMS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE OUTREACH, PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATION, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ONGOING SUPPORT WHICH WILL GIVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE SMALL FARMERS INCREASED RESOURCES TO THRIVE.IN HER SHOES, INC PARTNERS WITH FARM BUREAU, SWEET PEAS & CARROTS AND OTHER COLLABORATORS ON OUTREACH AND AWARENESS TO TARGET WOMEN AND BLACK FARMERS AND INCREASE PARTNERSHIPS CAPACITY. LOCAL FARMERS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS SUCH AS BOTANOLOGOS SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES, CITY FRESH HERB)AND UNIVERITY OF GEORGIA (UGA)HEMP FARM AND UGA HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL DELIVER A 12-SESSION TRAINING COURS AND ONE ON ONE CONSULTATIONS. UGA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL PROVIDE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRAINEES UNDER THIS PROJECT.EXPECTED OUTCOMES OVER THE 3 YEAR PROJECT TERM INCLUDE:60 NEW AND BEGINNER MINORITY AND FEMALE GROWERS PARTICIPANTS42 NEW AND/OR BEGINNER FARMERS INCREASE FARM INCOME BY 20 PERCENT DUE TO LESSONS LEARNED60 PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND CAPACITY IN HERB PRODUCTION PRACTICES42 TRAINEES IMPROVE AGRIBUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGH TRAINING12 NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO OUR NETWORK FOR ONGOING SUPPORT TO NEW AND BEGINNER FARMERS

IN HER SHOES INC. WILL ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL FARM BUSINESSES AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO FACILITATE MARKET INTEGRATION FOR OVER 30 LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FARM BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT ENABLING THEM TO CONNECT WITH NEW MARKETS. A KEY COMPONENT INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE PRODUCE MARKET DESIGNED TO DIRECTLY LINK FARMERS WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALONGSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW MARKET CHANNELS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED ACCESS TO PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY ALLOWING FARMERS TO EFFICIENTLY REACH WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SUPPLIERS LEADING TO A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF DIRECT BUYERS ACCESSING FRESH LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN OVERALL PRODUCE SALES. FURTHERMORE THE PROJECT SEEKS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE ON FARMS. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS INITIATIVE ARE FARMERS RANCHERS PROCESSORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE DELTA REGION AS WELL AS CONSUMERS WHO WILL HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO FRESH AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. IN HER SHOES INC. IS COMMITTED TO BOLSTERING THE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL FARM BUSINESSES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROBUST MARKET CONNECTIONS AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELTA VETERANS POULTRY PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING PROGRAM

DELTA AGRIBUSINESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR COMMODITY GROWERS

WEST GEORGIA FARMFORCE AGRIBUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM

TO INCREASE SMALL FARM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY AMONG SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED (SD) AND VETERAN FARMERS THROUGH OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA REGION.

RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS

RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN HER SHOES, INC. REQUESTS FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO HOST A NEW AND SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ON MARCH 1-3, 2024 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, GRIFFIN CAMPUS. THE 3-DAY CONFERENCE AIMS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAINERS AND NEW AND SMALL FARM BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION. THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE WILL OFFER KNOWLEDGE ON CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS OF NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS TO COMPETE IN TODAY'S MARKETS AND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE SMALL FARM BUSINESSES' CAPACITY TO ENTER INTO NEW MARKETS.MARQUITRICE MANGHAM, IN HER SHOES, INC DIRECTOR, SERVES AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. THE CONFERENCE WILL OFFER MORE THAN 30 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS OVER THREE DAYS TO FARMERS AND FARM BUSINESS SUPPORT PROVIDERS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE ARE TO:PROVIDE INSTRUCTOR-LED AND PEER-TO-PEER TRAINING SESSIONS TO ADVANCE SMALL AND MID SIZE MINORITY FARM BUSINESSES TOWARD NEW MARKET READINESSPROVIDE TRAIN THE TRAINER AND PEER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE RELEVANT TRAININGS TO NEW FARMERSCOLLABORATORS:MARQUITRICE MANGHAM, IN HER SHOES, INC ROBERT CHAPPELLE, MOBY'S VEGGIESBODIE PENNISI, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA DIANA EARWOOD, GEORGIA GROWNERDEEN BRITT, MINORITY COOPERATIVE OF NIRMAL JOSHEE, FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITYSUSTAINABLE GROWERS NOREEN WHITEHEAD, GEORGIA WIAEXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE CONFERENCE ARE:200 FARMERS WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. 40 PROGRAM MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL ATTEND THURSDAY'S TRAIN-THE -TRAINER SESSION. REGISTRATION FORMS AND LOGIN SHEETS WILL BE USED TO MEASURE ATTENDANCE.90% OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PROGRAM LEADERS WILL INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF RELEVANT ISSUES LEADING TO IMPROVED EDUCATION AND RESOURCES BEING PROVIDED TO FARM BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS LOOKING TO ENTER NEW MARKETS.EIGHTY FARMERS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF FARM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, PRICING FOR VARIOUS MARKETS, AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING PRACTICES. THIS OUTCOME WILL BE MEASURED BY SURVEYS.INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL AMONG 5 FARMERS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE VALUE-ADDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP. THIS OUTCOME WILL BE MEASURED REVIEW OF THE DRAFT VALUE-ADDED PROPOSAL.20% INCREASE IN ACCESS TO FACILITIES AND RESOURCES THROUGH NETWORKING GROUPS AND COOPERATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE (SURVEY)INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE OF MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AMONG 150 ATTENDEES MEASURED BY LOGIN SHEETS AND SURVEYS

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP OPPORTUNITY GRANT