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19 <br /> Piedmont Value-Added Shared-Use Food and Agricultural Processing Center <br /> Section II:Project and Applicant Description <br /> 5. Goals and Objectives <br /> The goal of this project is to enable farmers in tobacco-dependent,economically <br /> distressed,and rural communities throughout the Piedmont region of North Carolina to expand <br /> their markets and increase their revenues. While local distribution and sales systems exist in the <br /> form of farmers markets,community supported agriculture programs(CSAs),and cooperative <br /> groceries,opportunities for greater retail and wholesale marketing of farm products can be found <br /> in the form of minimally processed products,such as washed and graded produce,as well as <br /> more highly processed value-added products such as jams,jellies,and baked goods. Recent <br /> health issues concerning out-of-state food,such as e-coli and salmonella outbreaks,have <br /> increased the demand for locally grown food but a lack of available approved manufacturing <br /> space constrains the marketing of local farm products for all marketing venues. <br /> The primary objective of this project is the development of a regional value-added <br /> shared-use food and agricultural processing center that will serve a 22-county area in the <br /> Piedmont region of North Carolina and be open for business in January of 2010. The facility • <br /> will provide a wide range of food processing equipment,such as range/ovens,cutters,mixers, <br /> food processors,coolers,and packaging equipment.Business development support and <br /> education,especially training in starting a food-based business,developing business plans,and <br /> meeting food safety requirements,were noted by feasibility study survey respondents to be <br /> needed components of the food and agricultural processing center. <br /> A related objective is that the processing center will be financially sustainable by 2013 <br /> through the collection of user and program fees and from fundraising efforts. To achieve this <br /> objective we will be forming a nonprofit corporation from the stakeholder group of 40 <br /> individuals and the 62 producers who completed the survey during the feasibility study. This <br /> 501(c)3 group will act as a management entity that owns and oversees operations of the project, <br /> including managing staff and program development,outreach to farmers in the regional area,and <br /> fund development. <br /> 9 <br /> BOCC Meeting, January 22, 2009, Page 19 / 39 <br />