Business Programs

1. Business Programs Local Foods Projects from Nebraska • Programs for assisting local food businesses • Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) • Business & Industry Guaranteed Loans (B&I) • Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) • Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)

2. Value Added Producer Grant The Country Pumpkin Planning Grant Explored the potential for expanding business into a pumpkin patch and determine feasibility of producing different pumpkin products. Working Capital Grant Expanding market base for pumpkin products including frozen pumpkin puree, dog treats, pumpkin breads and pumpkin seeds. LOCAL FOODS: Selling pumpkins and processed pumpkin products in Nebraska

3. Value Added Producer Grant/B&I Clark’s Specialty Grain Provides Blue Corn, White Corn, Organic and Non-GMO Corn to Frito Lay to process into chips Planning Grant • Helped determine if business concept of contracting with area farmers to supply the volume needed for supplying local chip manufacturers was feasible. The study was able to provide data to help guide the operation using best practices, marketing data, and financial analysis. Working Capital Funds • Helped establish marketing to chip manufacturers Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan • Requested loan for additional equipment and to expand operations

4. Value Added Producer Grant/ B&I Prairieland Dairy Dairy operation who purchased a bottling plant to process source identified, fresh milk. Currently markets to local grocery stores, convenience stores and schools. VAPG - Working Capital Grant Provided funds to assist with composting manure and waste to provide Prairie Gold Compost to local garden stores. Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Purchased bottling plant to process milk for sales to local grocery stores, convenience stores and schools. Currently looking at REAP program for assistance for methane digester and using various feedstock including food waste from the local school and restaurants.

5. Rural Energy for America Program/B&I Gary’s Super Foods Purchased grocery store, remodeled, updated coolers, lighting systems and used reclaim system for heating and cooling Used Guaranteed loan for purchase of store and REAP for energy efficiency improvements. • A heat reclaim system captures the heat from the store’s refrigeration system and redistributes the heat through a duct work system to heat the entire store. Gary’s saw significant savings in energy usage. LOCAL FOODS: Purchases products from local producers and sells in his grocery stores (North Platte and Hershey).

6. REAP/B&I Guaranteed Loan Garden Fresh Vegetables Garden Fresh Vegetables operates a 24 acre greenhouse located in O'Neill, NE. The company competes in the hydroponic vegetable/fruit business; producing and selling fresh tomatoes and cucumbers year round. The greenhouse process is designed to ripen produce naturally, not through artificial chemicals. Rural Energy America Program • Used REAP to improve boiler system in greenhouse Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan • Expanded 10 acre greenhouse to a 24 acre facility by purchasing existing greenhouses and moving to current location. LOCAL FOODS: Sells product within the state of Nebraska

7. Rural Business Enterprise Grant Rural Business Enterprise Grant Village of Cody (Circle C Market) – Funds provided technical assistance (TA), purchased equipment for creation of a business incubator and constructed a straw bale grocery store. McCook Economic Development Corporation – Funds provided TA to develop marketing efforts for businesses in area including Wauneta Roller Mills, Homespun Bakers, Prairie Harvest, and Sehnert’s Bakery (all use flours from Wauneta Roller Mills). Little Priest Tribal College (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) – Funds used to provide TA for training purposes to Tribal members to develop agricultural enterprises. TA provided help with how to market and sell local foods. Village of Hayes Center – Funds were used to construct a building to be used as a distribution warehouse for 4 small grocery stores. The Village is leasing the building to Scott’s Food who is coordinating the purchasing for all stores. (Food Hub)

8. RBEG (cont.) Center for Rural Affairs – Funds were used to assist Santee Sioux Nations to develop 5 new small businesses in a community of 300 population. TA included training specifically for organic production, Farm to School projects with Santee Schools, and development of Farmer’s Market. Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society – Funds were used to provide TA and training for local food businesses to participate in Farm to School Pilot Program. Training included Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), meeting requirements for school lunch foods, and assistance with determining Cost of Goods Sold and pricing of products. UNL Food Processing Center – Funds were used to provide in-depth market research and business development assistance to select food manufacturers. The technical assistance to help develop short-term and long term goals and strategies of how to reach the goals.

9. Marketing to Local Foods Producers Strategies for Marketing to Local Foods Businesses NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK with state resource providers including: Farmer’s Markets Associations or Coalitions and/or visiting your local farmer’s markets Small Business Development Center Nebraska Cooperative Development Center Nebraska Department of Agriculture University of NE Cooperative Extension Programs NE Department of Economic Development’s Field Economic Developers FFA (Future Farmers of America) PRESS RELEASES in local papers ASSOCIATIONS(Restaurant, Grocery, Wineries) FOOD WHOLESALERS – Affiliated Foods, Fleming, Pegler Sysco, etc. NEBRASKA BANKERS ASSOCIATION DIRECT MAIL via electronic mail or United States Postal Service: - Newsletters, NOFA’s ,program updates SISTER AGENCIES – FSA, NRCS - Mailers, flyers, newsletters - Presentations