Hudson Valley Agri-Business Development Corporation

Technical assistance: hvadc technical assistance programs include the incubator without walls (iww), farm and food funding accelerator (fffa), and Hudson Valley bounty (hvb). These programs are designed to provide analysis and start-up assistance for new ventures and enterprises, to market expansion and improved disbritution networks for existing agricultural and food businesses. Hvadc provides the resources to access technical and professional service providers, project planning and Development services, funding and capital access and feasibility analysis. As needs emerge, hvadc also presents timely topic specific instruction such as its food labeling workshop, making it happen financial anaylsis sessions and local lamb lessons series on starting a sheep business. These public programs are open to all interested parties.

Food security: hvadc is working on the issue of food security through the feedhv program. Feedhv is a regional food rescue and gleaning network dedicated to meeting the needs of neighbors while mitigating food waste. Through a web-based and mobile application powered by chowmatch, feedhv links food donors of prepared but unserved food and fresh produce (including farms, restaurants, catering services, grocery stores, hospitals, universities, and more) to non-profit organizations with food assistance programs (such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters) and a network of volunteers who transport, glean, and process donated food.

Access to capital: in 2018, hvadc was designated as one of eight third-party lenders participating in the new york job Development authority's (jda) agriculture loan fund program. With a focus on the mid-hudson and capital regions, the hvadc loan program issues low interest loans between $50,000 and $200,000 to small business owners; increase the availability of credit, investment capital and financial products and services to such low-income communities and to people who lack access to financing to stimulate and promote community and economic Development in economically depressed and distressed urban and rural communities in the state of new york, particularly in the Hudson Valley region and those underserved by traditional financial institutions. In addition to the loan opportunity, hvadc is partnering with the Hudson mohawk resource conservation and Development council, inc. (hmrc&d) to administer the grown & certified (g&c) producer grant program in the capital district region. The g&c producer grants will be awarded for capital projects that will enable qualified agricultural producers to meet food safety standards necessary for participation in the program. Eligible agricultural producers can apply for up to 90% of their total project cost, not to exceed $50,000.