Tri-State Local Foods

TRI-STATE LOCAL FOODS, DBA THE WILD RAMP, IS A YEAR-ROUND, NON-PROFIT FARMERS MARKET BASED IN HUNTINGTON, WV. OUR MISSION IS TO GROW AND SUPPORT A VIBRANT ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY FOR LOCAL FOOD, FOOD PRODUCTS, AND ARTISAN GOODS. WE SEEK TO INCREASE LOCAL FARMER AND ARTISAN REVENUES AND AID IN EXPANDING THEIR EFFORTS. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR ONLINE AND/OR CONTACT-FREE SALES. OUR RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC IS CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ONLINE ORDERING PLATFORM TO COMPLEMENT OUR CURRENT STOREFRONT. THIS PLATFORM WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS EVEN FURTHER, INCREASING FARMER AND PRODUCER REVENUES AS WELL AS EXPANDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS LOCAL FOOD AND GOODS TO OUR COMMUNITY. PROJECT GOALS: UPGRADE OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND POINT-OF-SALE SOFTWARE; REDEVELOP OUR WEBSITE; RENT SPACE TO HOUSE OUR ONLINE INVENTORY; LEASE REFRIGERATION UNITS TO PROPERLY STORE ONLINE INVENTORY; REVITALIZE OUR MARKETING STRATEGY; EXPAND OUR PERSONNEL FOR MANAGING ONLINE INVENTORY, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, ACCOUNTING, AND MARKETING. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPANDED ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS AND FOOD PRODUCTS; UPGRADED SYSTEM FOR ONLINE ORDERING AND MARKETING; INCREASED INCOME FOR LOCAL FARMERS AND ARTISANS; INCREASED WEB TRAFFIC; INCREASED FARMER PRODUCTION; INCREASED CONSUMER AUDIENCE

THE WILD RAMP: EXPANDING ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF LCAL AND REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

REFRESH APPALACHIA: AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY