Applications are now being accepted for Feeding Innovation: Midlands, with orientation scheduled for February 18th, 2015.
Feeding Innovation is a comprehensive technical assistance program designed to support entrepreneurs interested in developing or expanding healthy food enterprises in underserved areas of the state. Examples of these types of businesses include farmers’ markets, mobile markets, corner stores, and CSAs. The goal of the program is to increase access to healthy food while supporting the development of strong, local entrepreneurs and community-based businesses.
Challenge participants will develop and present a business plan that will expand the availability of healthy food in underserved areas across the Midlands. The process will be supported by individual mentors, who will provide technical assistance to participants as they develop comprehensive plans for launching their proposed business ventures. A team of judges will review all submitted business plans and evaluate them based on established rating standards. The entrepreneur with the strongest business plan receives $12,500 in seed capital for their business. At the end of the program, all participants should know what steps to take to grow their business and how they need to execute those steps. The program is open to new and existing entrepreneurs, and there is no fee to participate.
Important Dates:
February 18: Orientation
March 6: Application Deadline
March 30-May 18: NxLevel Courses
May 26: Business Plans Due
June 16: Presentations
