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Regional Food System
The region’s producers and partner organizations collaborate to support the expansion of the region’s local food supply and markets. Since 2013, these efforts have given way to a coordinated multi-partner network or “Collaborative” of small agriculture and seafood producers, food hubs, economic development organizations, tourism stakeholders, small business development centers, local ports and food value chain technical assistance providers.
The region’s strength is the plethora of small agriculture producers and small commercial fishing fleets on the North Coast. As anywhere, connecting the producers to the wholesale, consumer and institutional North Coast markets requires integrated sophisticated technology, aggregation and distribution, and coordination among a range of stakeholders.
However, the challenge is that Oregon’s North Coast is distanced from the Portland metropolitan by the Oregon Coast range and as is the case with many rural regions, we lack of wholesale food distribution capacity.
With the award of a three-year USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership (RFSP) Grant in 2020, came the coalescence of the North Coast Collaborative, comprised of local food markets, producers, food system technical advisors, non-profits, and tourism organizations. The Collaborative devised a three-phased approach to supporting the local food system along the North Coast. In the first two phases, value chain assessments, food hub feasibility studies, and other research and planning activities contributed to the development of producers/harvester training opportunities, supported market development and education programs, and supported the need for development of necessary infrastructure. Phase three focused on implementation and expansion via Regional Coordination, Procurement Coordination and Marketing/Resource Acquisition, with the goal to institutionalize the long-term resiliency and sustainability of the North Coast’s locally produced food system. ColPac became engaged in this flourishing network of food system stakeholders through grant acquisition, contracted research, reporting, and collaborative convening.
Food System Development remains a core part of the region’s NW Oregon Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), as well as an integral component of NW Oregon’s Economic Resiliency Planning.
Research and Reporting on North Coast Agricultural and Seafood Producers
PARTNERS
Funding Opportunities List
| Program | Entity | Eligible Applicant | Funding Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediary Relending Program | USDA | Intermediary lender | (1) purchase or develop land (easements, rights of way, buildings, facilities, leases, materials). (2) purchase equipment, machinery or supplies, or make leasehold improvements. (3) start-up costs and working capital. |
| Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program | USDA | lenders must be approved under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative | Borrowers must be directly engaged in the middle of the food supply chain (aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling, or distribution of food. ie. meat processor or food hub) |
| Microloans | SBA | *SBA authorized intermediary lenders (info linked) | loans of up to $50,000 through SBA funding intermediaries. Can be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, machinery, equipment. Cannot be used to purchase real estate. *Requires at least one year experience with microloan |
| 504 Loans | SBA | Authorized Lenders *504 loans are only available through CDCs | long-term fixed loans for assets (including the purchase or construction of existing buildings or land, new facilities, long-term machinery and equipment) |
| Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program | USDA | Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures | Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Working capital expenses include: - Processing costs. - Marketing and advertising expenses. - Some inventory and salary expenses. |
| Rural Business Development Grants (Opportunity Grant & Enterprise Grant) | USDA | Rural Public Entity (ie. Non-profit) | Enterprise: project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements. Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities. The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital. Opportunity: Community economic development; Technology-based economic development; Feasibility studies and business plans; Leadership and entrepreneur training; Rural business incubators; Long-term business strategic planning. |
| Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans | USDA | Producers | Farm Ownership loans can provide access to land and capital. Operating loans can assist beginning farmers in become prosperous and competitive by helping to pay normal operating or family living expenses; open doors to new markets and marketing opportunities; assist with diversifying operations; and so much more. Microloan programs, beginning farmers and ranchers have an important source of financial assistance during the start-up years. |
| Microloan Programs | USDA | Traditional and non-traditional family farms and ranches | financing needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods. - direct farm ownership microloans (farm down payment, build/repair/improve farm buildings, joint financing, down payment for farm ownership loan) - direct farm operating microloans (hoop houses, essential farming tools, livestock/seeds/utilities/land rents, irrigation, marketing and distribution costs) |
| Farmer Ownership Loans | USDA | Producer | help farmers and ranchers purchase or enlarge family farms, improve and expand current operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist with land tenure to save farmland for future generations. With a maximum loan amount of $600,000 ($300,150 for Beginning Farmer Down Payment). Buy a farm or ranch; enlarge existing farm or ranch; make down payment on a farm; purchase easements; construct/improve farm dwellings/facilities, etc. |
| AgWest Farm Credit - Rural Community Grant Program | AgWest Farm Credit | Non-profit in rural development | The program provides grants to non-profits for projects that improve rural communities. This includes efforts such as building or improving local facilities; purchasing necessary equipment to facilitate a local program; and funding capital improvements which enhance a community’s infrastructure, viability and/or prosperity. max request $5,000. |
| Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) | USDA | ag businesses or cooperatives, producer networks or associations, community supported agriculture networks or associations, food councils, local govs, nonprofits, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, and tribes. | supports public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries, and institutional markets or institutional food service operations through local and regional producers and local and regional food systems to increase the supply and provision of local food. |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) | USDA | Agricultural businesses and cooperatives. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations. Food councils. Economic development corporations. Local governments. Nonprofit and public benefit corporations. Producer networks or associations. Regional farmers’ market authorities. Tribal governments. | funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities. |
| Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) | USDA | Agricultural businesses and cooperatives. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations. Food councils. Economic development corporations. Local governments. Nonprofit and public benefit corporations. Producer networks or associations. Regional farmers’ market authorities. Tribal governments. | projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Grants can be used for the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise or to improve or expand a food business that supports locally and regionally produced agricultural products and food system infrastructure by performing feasibility studies, market research, training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise. |
