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General News: Grant to Promote Regional Food Economy
January 27, 2012
From Pattern for Progress
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress has received a $191,400 grant from the Local Economies Project of The New World Foundation to generate growth in the regional food economy.
The grant will fund two projects that aim to increase the amount of local food consumed by Hudson Valley residents and public institutions, and support the economic vitality of the region’s agriculture sector.
The first project will include researching the feasibility of a food hub for the Hudson Valley to improve and increase the distribution of locally produced food in the market. The second project includes working with local institutions to identify barriers and solutions to procuring more local food for their meal programs. These groups might include community colleges, nursing homes, jails and other venues.
Sarah Brannen has joined Pattern for Progress to lead the two projects as vice president for policy and research. Previously, Ms. Brannen was a policy advisor on economic and food issues to the Speaker of the New York City Council. She is originally from Poughkeepsie.
The two projects will seek to strengthen the regional food system and increase market opportunities for Hudson Valley farmers and food products. Although the industry boasts 5,000 farms that generate more than $500 million in revenue for the region each year, there is great untapped demand and opportunity to provide more local food to the region and the nearby New York City metro market.
The food-hub project will analyze ways to strengthen the supply chain for these producers. That effort will begin with a strategic planning effort, enlisting input and expertise from businesses and local stakeholders in the coming year. The food hub will also focus on efforts to help meet rising consumer demand for local food by improving infrastructure and broadening distribution.
Additionally, by working with local governments across the region, the food procurement project will potentially open new distribution channels to the region’s food producers.
The projects envision the formation of several advisory teams to support their economic, agricultural business and planning aspects.
“We are very excited that the New World Foundation has funded this project to strengthen agriculture as an economic engine in the Hudson Valley,” said Jonathan Drapkin, president and CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. “By identifying new distribution pathways and markets for local food, we hope to reconnect farmers and communities throughout the region. We are also fortunate that Ms. Brannen has chosen to join Pattern’s staff.
Her analytic and policy skills, especially in the area of food policy, make her one of the region’s rising stars.”
The New World Foundation grant is part of its Local Economies Project, which aims to encourage local ownership of businesses, sustainable economic growth and thriving local communities.
Pattern for Progress is a not-for-profit policy and planning organization that promotes regional, balanced and sustainable solutions to enhance the growth and vitality of the Hudson Valley. Founded in 1965 by business, academic and civic leaders, and based in Newburgh, N.Y., Pattern works within the nine-county area that includes Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
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