Steward Foundation Inc

AQUACULTURE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING FOOD-PRODUCING SUBSECTORS GLOBALLY,YET THE UNITED STATES HAS FALLEN BEHIND,RANKING 17TH GLOBALLY IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION,AND IMPORTING 90% OF OUR SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION. MOREOVER,THE ENTIRE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES IS HOME TO ONLY 9% OF ALL AQUACULTURE FARMS IN THE COUNTRY. TO ADDRESS THIS DISADVANTAGE,THE STEWARD FOUNDATION,IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR THREE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS,THE OREGON AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION (OAA),NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE (NWAA),AND CALIFORNIA AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE (CAA),IS SEEKING GRANT SUPPORT TO BEGIN FORMALLY PLANNING THE PACIFIC AQUACULTURE MARKETING AND INNOVATION CENTER (PAMIC). ESTABLISHING SUCH A CENTER WOULD PROVIDE IMPORTANT NEW SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS AND FOOD BUSINESSES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST - AIDING BUSINESS FORMATION,ACCELERATING GROWTH,CREATING JOBS AND BETTER SERVING REGIONAL CONSUMERS. AS A PLANNING GRANT,EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE EXPLICATION OF COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH A STAKEHOLDER SURVEY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT,IDENTIFICATION OF THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH A CENTER TO MEET THOSE NEEDS,AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS AND MARKETING PLANS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE PACIFIC AQUACULTURE MARKETING AND INNOVATION CENTER (PAMIC).