Charlotte Muezenberger wrote an excellent piece on one of the recent networking meetings that are catalyzing an agricultural and bioscience industry cluster in NE Ohio.  In an article in the business section of the July 18, 2010 edition of the Wooster Daily Record, she describes the project and some of the research that is fueling the network.  The project is sponsored by the Fund for Our Economic Future and is focused on building collaborative networks of locally owned businesses related to agriculture.  Read th

The USDA has announced Rural Business Opportunity grants of up to $250,000 to support economic development in local and regional economies around food, energy and natural resources.  The projects are expected to represent a collaboration within a self-defined region of a wide range of institutions and organizations.  The Federal Register notice is attached but to save you some time, the key areas of interest to be supported include:

1.  Local and regional food systems
that encourage agriculture and related
industries in new wealth creation—

On August 27, 2009 I gave a presentation in a series at the Mustard Seed Market, Montrose, in a series of talks on local food systems.  Participants asked for a copy of the presentation, so here it is.  I hope this will help spread the word on the opportunities to build local economies with businesses that promote local food systems.