Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities Inc

RESILIENT RELATIONSHIPS, RESILIENT SUPPLY BUILDS UPON ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN THE FOOD SYSTEM IN LOWER MICHIGANS WESTERN LAKESHORE REGION TO INCREASE SALES AND CONSUMPTION OF LOCALLY GROWN FOODS FROM SMALL AND MID SIZED PRODUCERS TO SCHOOLS, EARLY CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) CENTERS AND EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDERS THE PROJECT INCREASES COMMUNITY NUTRITION SECURITY BY INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CITIZENS. WE WILL SUPPORT 34 STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS IN FILLING GAPS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPLY CHAINS TO HELP MARKETS GROW. WE WILL LEVERAGE MIS INNOVATIVE STATE PROGRAM, 10 CENTS A MEAL FOR MICHIGANS KIDS AND FARMS, CURRENTLY FUNDED AT 4.5 MILLION, INCREASING LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING POWER FOR SCHOOLS, ECE CENTERS, AND ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS FEEDING CHILDREN VIA USDA CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. PARTNERS WILL LEVERAGE PROVEN REGIONAL FARM TO FOOD PANTRY INITIATIVES THAT HAVE GROWN IN RESPONSE TO COVID 19. LEADPARTNERSGROUNDWORK CENTER FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, THE PRINCIPAL OF A FOOD PROCESSING ASSOCIATION, A SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS EXPERT, AND A LOCAL FOODS MARKETING ENTERPRISE WITH VAST FARMER CONNECTIONSWILL CONVENE 5 PEER LEARNING NETWORKS (PLNS) AND PROVIDE FARM TO INSTITUTION SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CREATE STRONGER COLLABORATIONS AMONG 5 KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS PRODUCERS, DISTRIBUTORS, PROCESSORS AGGREGATORS, SCHOOLS EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) CENTERS, AND EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDERS (EFP). THE PLNS WILL PROVIDE THE CHANCE TO NETWORK, IDENTIFY NEEDS, FIND OPPORTUNITIES AND SOLUTIONS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. PLN MEMBERS WILL ATTEND LEARNING JOURNEYS TO PLN MEMBER SITES TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES. THEY WILL HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO 5 KEY MI BASED FOOD SYSTEMS CONFERENCES TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IMPLEMENTATION LEADS IN THE WEST MI AND NW MI REGIONS WILL MATCH SCHOOLS AND ECE CENTERS AND EFP S TO SMALL AND MID SIZE FARMS AND RELATED FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, ASSISTING PARTNERS IN LEVERAGING EXISTING FUNDING LIKE 10 CENTS A MEAL AND EXPANDING UPON FARM TO PANTRY INITIATIVES. SUBAWARDS WILL GO TO 5 PARTNER CORE TEAM MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT WEST MI FOOD PROCESSING ASSOCIATION WILL SERVE AS AGGREGATION AND PROCESSING PLN LEAD, EFP IMPLEMENTATION LEAD AND SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION LEAD IN 5 COUNTY WEST MI REGION, AND PROVIDE AGGREGATION AND PROCESSING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ALDEN SERVICES WILL SERVE AS DISTRIBUTION PLN LEAD AND PROVIDE DISTRIBUTION LOGISTICS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TASTE THE LOCAL DIFFERENCE WILL SERVE AS PRODUCER PLN LEAD AND ALSO PROVIDE MARKETING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. OTHERS NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICES WILL SERVE AS SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION LEAD IN 5 COUNTY GRAND TRAVERSE REGION KENT CO ESSENTIAL NEEDS TASK FORCE WILL SERVE AS EFP IMPLEMENTATION LEAD AND SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION LEAD IN KENT CO. THE ROLES THEY PLAY ARE CRUCIAL FOR THE EXECUTION OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES. EACH OFFERS EXPERTISE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DOMAINS AND ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN REGIONS THAT EXPAND THE REACH AND BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT. THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATED EFFORTS SUCH AS WRITING GRANTS AND OBTAINING LOANS WE AIM TO INCREASE CAPACITY, DEVELOP NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS TO EXPAND LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, AND PROMOTE FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES TO ENSURE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. 501,620 EXPECTED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AND ECE CENTERS PARTICIPATING IN 10 CENTS A MEAL, FAMILIES AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS UTILIZING EFPS, SMALL AND MID SIZE FARMERS, PROCESSORS, AGGREGATORS, DISTRIBUTORS AND BUSINESSES ALONG THE VALUE ADDED SUPPLY CHAIN ACROSS THE 16 COUNTY PROJECT REGION. WE EXPECT THAT OUR EFFORTS IN BRINGING TOGETHER AND ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS OF THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN WITH LEAD TO INCREASED RESILIENCE AND EFFICACY OF WORK WITHIN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM OF MI S WESTERN LAKESHORE REGION.