Update on progress with ANEO and the FFEF

Casey Hoy's picture

We appreciate the opportunity to have met with you on November 3.  It is our considered opinion that our exchanges during that meeting moved us closer to consensus on a green agenda for the Advance Northeast Ohio (ANEO) plan.  Unfortunately, a follow-up conference call to give you an update in December on our two core initiatives was not possible.  In lieu of that the following note summarizes our progress to date as we launch the USDA-SCRI grant and reflects on a presentation we made to the Business Attraction, Retention and Entrepreneurship (BARE) Committee of the Fund for our Economic Future (FFEF) in December.

USDA-SCRI Grant
The USDA-SCRI grant is focused on utiliing a social networking infrastructure consisting of software, web-based networking tools, and curricula in how to use them effectively as a foundation upon which to build local and regional economies.  This type of economic development is possible when effective interrelationships among local and regional food systems, renewable energy generation, and distributed and ecologically-principled manufacturing are in place within agricultural and business ecosystems (please read "Food Systems, Economies, and Ecosystems" for more insights into our goals in this area).  Our entry point is local and regional food systems.  During 2009, we will work with our partners and collaborators to leverage funding from the grant across a three-state region and align with the ANEO interests to advance these food systems.

One of our partners on this grant is the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA).  This organization completed a Regional Food Infrastructure Network (RFIN) feasibility study for Western Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh metropolitan region in 2006.  We are helping PASA convene statewide meetings in Pennsylvania during February and March (Michigan will follow a similar process later in the spring).  This will have the twofold effect of bringing PASA members and friends into our regional social network as well as drawing upon their experiences with the feasibility study and subsequent strategy to bolster the local food systems in greater Pittsburgh area.  The region covered by the PASA study is within the boundaries of the 100 mile diet, making it part of our region as well in a food system sense.  We see a number of ways that collaboration between the two states and along the Cleveland-Youngstown-Pittsburg corridor could take place and some of the partners have been networking on developing these ideas.

Business Attraction, Retention and Entrepreneurship (BARE) Committee
Closer to home, we met with the BARE Committee of the FFEF for a conversation on building local and regional economies through an agriculture and bioscience industry cluster.  We introduced the topic with a presentation very much like the one that we gave to many of you in the "Partners on Partnership" group on 3 November.  The presentation and ensuing discussion generated considerable excitement among participants.  Enough so that there may be support forthcoming from the FFEF to initiate the process of building green, local and regional economies starting with food systems in Northeast Ohio, and moving smartly to adopt the renewable energy and distributed manufacturing dimensions of the strategy.  An advisory board consisting of ANEO partners could provide helpful guidance in the networking and identification of opportunities to build this industry cluster.  Let us know what you think about this and if you'd be interested in participating on such a board.

In collaboration with our partners, we continue to explore funding opportunities for local food systems through foundations and federal grants.  I'd encourage those of you who have had such efforts underway to share the progress with the rest of the group.

Hope your holidays were joyful and best wishes for the coming year.  We look forward to working with you in 2009!

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Advisory board

Chester Bowling's picture

Casey,

I would be willing to be part of your advisory board.

Chet

 

Casey's post on ANEO and FFEF

Chester Bowling's picture

There seems to be some confusion about my last post.  In Casey's last post he talked about FFEF willingness to "initiate the process of building green, local and regional
economies starting with food systems in Northeast Ohio, and moving
smartly to adopt the renewable energy and distributed manufacturing
dimensions of the strategy."  Follwoing that he said "An advisory board consisting of ANEO
partners could provide helpful guidance in the networking and
identification of opportunities to build this industry cluster."  I was volunteering to be one of the members of that advisory board.

Chet