Hudson Valley Farm and Food Business Accelerator Program Announces Instructors

HUDSON, NY – July 29, 2016 – The Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation’s (HVADC) new Farm and Food Business Accelerator (FFBA) Program has announced the slate of instructors and mentors who will be participating in its six month curriculum beginning in October. Nathan Forster, the founder of Groundwork Companies, has been named FFBA Project Manager.

FFBA is an intensive training program designed to help farmers and food entrepreneurs scale their business, build sales, and access financial sources. FFBA participants will engage in a series of online training activities, expert instruction, one-on-one mentoring sessions, group interaction and industry networking events to learn how to talk to investors, discover new market opportunities, and pitch to potential funders. The program will conclude with an opportunity for participants to meet New York City and Hudson Valley-based funders that are seeking to invest in ventures that support the local food system.

“ HVADC has assembled a talented group of instructors and mentors to develop program content and deliver expert assistance to participants through a custom curriculum that will apply to each participant’s real-time business needs,” according to Forster.

Forster is the founder of Groundwork Companies, a food and agribusiness consulting firm delivering return through creative market development. He is also a consultant to the Taste NY Initiative, and the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship (CADE). Previously, Forster worked as an Agriculture Economic Development Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County and as Procurement Manager for Greenmarket Co.

To prepare Hudson Valley entrepreneurs for accessing capital, the FFBA course curriculum will include:

· The Fundamentals of Accessing Capital: Instructors Joan Snyder, CEO, Frog Hollow Inc.; and Jason Foscolo, Esq., The Food Law Firm.

· Business Planning: Instructor Brian Zweig, Founder of Business Opportunities Management Consulting.

· Financials and Management: Instructors Brian Zweig, Founder of Business Opportunities Management Consulting; and Richard Gilmore, AgVisory, LLC

· Marketing: Instructors Karen Dittrich, Founder of Creatif Leaf Marketing

· Accessing Capital (two part course): Instructors Brian Zweig, Founder of Business Opportunities Management Consulting; Joan Snyder, CEO, Frog Hollow Inc.; and Farm Credit representatives.

· Mentoring Leaders: Ajax Greene, On Belay Business Advisors; and Scott Tillitt, Antidote Collective.

“Perhaps one of the most exciting benefits of the FFBA program is the opportunity for our participants to network with real buyer opportunities and proven industry professionals” said Forster. “Having both Ajax Greene and Scott Tillitt leading our mentoring program will be an invaluable opportunity for FFBA entrepreneurs. Both are well known and respected in the sustainable business movement, and have extensive experience helping organizations strategize their growth,” he continued.

Further FFBA instructor/mentor information may be found at www.hvadc.org. Additional instructors and mentors will be added to match individual participant business models.

FFBA applicants must be a farm, food, fiber or agriculture-dependent business having their home office, farm or production facility in the Hudson Valley, and sourcing the majority of their product ingredients from the region, as well as the majority of their labor force. They must be able to make a commitment to the time and resources required of the training program and to commit the same to future FFBA participants as a peer or mentor. There is no cost to participate.

Funding for FFBA was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 15LFPPNY0025 in addition to matching funds from HVADC. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Applications for the FFBA program will be accepted until August 15. Additional details and application materials may be found at www.hvadc.org. Questions regarding the FFBA program may be directed to 518-432-5360 or accelerator@hvadc.org.

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About HVADC:

The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is the only economic development agency in the Hudson Valley with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the region. HVADC’s charge is to enhance the agricultural sector in the Hudson Valley by assisting both new and existing agri-businesses, and supporting policies and regulations that recognize and support New York State’s agricultural economy. Visit www.hvadc.org