MOBILIZING THE SUPPLY CHAIN WITH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

c. Project Goals and Intended OutcomesThis food trailer represents the intersection of three current ASD initiatives, meeting several of our goals.Providing support to farmers and producers: We strengthen the regional food supply chain with a network of about 40 small, regional farmers through our food hub, aggregating and distributing produce. To date, we have assisted farmers in selling more than $30 million of produce and value-added products to wholesale grocers/produce brokers. Farmers and food entrepreneurs needing a certified kitchen on-site for small-scale value-added production can reserve the trailer to eliminate the need to transport for canning and then transport it back again for sales. Entrepreneurs who want to enter the food truck market can test their menu in a reasonably-priced, rentable food trailer business incubator. We create markets, provide training and equipment, and connect farmers to new opportunities to increase their business.Healthy food access for low-income communities: ASD has a number of programs supporting this initiative, such as Farm-to-School procurement, providing fresh local produce to just under 4,000 students within four school districts; grower programs providing training, tools, seeds, mentorship, and more for people who want to grow food; and a number of community gardens - in schools, clubs, and civic locations - where anyone can get fresh produce any time. We also provide food demonstrations, nutrition courses, and support food charities, including 30 food pantries we serve.Economic and workforce development opportunities: In addition to the economic support we provide the region through our work with farmers, we also have a workforce development program called Groundwork. This program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with education and personal support for people with barriers to employment. This program has four career pathways for trainees to earn food industry certifications; learn the basics of entrepreneurship; attend classes on essential skills; financial literacy; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and career development; access the food industry network, and job shadowing opportunities, internships, and other opportunities.Qualitative and quantitative metrics defining success for this project include the following:7 Community-hosted events attended (April Fork and Cork, May Trail Days, June Juneteenth Tazewell, July Highlands Festival, August Tri Pride, September Rhythm and Roots, October Fall Fling)4 Private events attended on farms (canning harvests, farm-to-table dinners, cottage industry value-added production, etc.)4 Private events in various locations TBD (weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc.)16 Events hosted per year at schools and childcare centers (gardens, central kitchen, cafeteria, etc.)12 ASD events hosted per year (at ASD's new farm, food hub, Designated Food Deserts, etc.)12 Paid trainees learning food production (6 requested in budget, 6 from program income or other sources)6 Types of training curriculum offered (ServSafe Handler, ServSafe Manager, Essential Skills, DEI, Financial Literacy, Good Agricultural Practices)4 Participating school districts in year one (potentially expanded to all 11 SWVA districts later)16 Products developed in the kitchen (hot or raw meals, value-added products, school meals, take-and-bake, seasonal products, products for families, products for festivals or events)3 Farmers or food entrepreneurs incorporate value-added production into their small business3 New businesses started in our mobile kitchen (one per year)3600 School children with access to local food (four districts to start, expanding to 7 more later)2500 Pounds per year local produce purchased to supply the food trailer$10,000 Per year spent on local agriculture products to supply the food trailerThe short-term goal of this project is to build on the foundation of an effective workforce development program coupled with farmer and school networks to create a food trailer increasing access to locally grown, fresh, healthy foods for low-income populations. The food trailer will provide for multiple needs with social enterprise opportunities built into the project. Because we are generating additional revenue streams for farmers, entrepreneurs, and our own Groundwork program, it can quickly become self-sustaining. By capitalizing on the region's rich culture, this viable business model allows trainees and entrepreneurs to benefit from costly infrastructure facilities, hands-on training, and the opportunity to perfect their business model with support and minimal risk.This project will have several benefits throughout the region. We will increase local food production and manufacturing, provide farmers with access to larger markets and higher profit margins, and strengthen the agriculture economy. People will consume more fresh, local produce, thereby improving health outcomes long term. The mobile kitchen will accommodate and incubate new social enterprises and support food entrepreneurs. We will reduce the distance between the producer and the consumer, reducing the cost of production and distribution by bringing the kitchen to the farm for special events as one of our strategies for promoting sustainable agriculture practices.Expected outcomes are to strengthen the local food supply chain, increase local food production to provide farmers with higher profit margins, and create opportunities for food based entrepreneurship among all of the populations we serve. Because our region is primarily rural, the mobility of this kitchen is key to its success. Recent challenges to the food supply chain from COVID and flooding indicate the need to be as self-reliant as possible and create a vibrant local food system to mitigate any potential crisis. Our strategy is to prepare now for a potential problem by ensuring Appalachians have access to what we need to feed our own people with the food we grow and produce ourselves.