Agenda 11-11-2021; 1 - Food Systems Community & Economic Development Update

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Piedmont Food Processing Center (PFPC) identifies female food entrepreneurs are more likely to close their businesses than male food entrepreneurs. 2018 2020 2017 WE Power Food is formed. Shared vision and goals established. Additional funding is provided by PFPC and the USDA Rural Business Development Grant. PFPC convenes round-table discussions with women in food businesses, entrepreneurship programs and public office. WE Power Food is led by women food entrepreneurs with the intent of creating a strong network and developing resources for female-owned food businesses. WE Power Food applies for and receives its first grant from NC IDEA. WE Power Food monthly meetings continue. New members are recruited to ensure a broad spectrum of female food entrepreneurs are represented. WE Power Food in collaboration with PFPC develops a scholarship program to provide opportunity to a start-up female food company. The first scholarship is awarded to a female-owned start-up, Jeddah's Teas. 2019 WE Power Food creates Facebook group page in order to assist more producers with their immediate needs. Members no longer need to wait for monthly meetings to address issues. WE Power Food launches WE Power Food website independent of PFPC (www.wepowerfood.org) WE Power Food develops relationships with Durham Tech Small Business Center and Alamance Community College and the Women's Business Center of Fayetteville WE Power Food launches online store selling gift boxes of members' products. The boxes include over 20 female- owned businesses. Over 120 boxes are sold during November and December of 2020. 2021 WE Power Food is featured on Spectrum News 1 and WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler. WE Power Food is highlighted in Chapel Hill Magazine's Food & Drink issue. WE Power Food receives a second grant from NC IDEA. WE Power Food is recognized as a nonprofit organization in the State of North Carolina and forms its first board. WE Power Food continues to provide resources to over 160 members. WE Power Food makes its national debut at the 2021 Food Incubation Summit, the largest network of kitchen incubators and commercial kitchens in the world. "As a small business owner, I work mainly by myself and WE Power has given me a sense of community with other women food entrepreneurs. We share information, help problem solve, and lift each other up during each meeting. Any gathering with this group is time well spent as a business owner and feeds my soul as a woman." 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 FM Active Inactive 17