Center for Regional Food Systems Food Systems Partners Investing in Communities and Entrepreneurs

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  Loan Readiness Toolbox for Food and Farm Businesses

  Published on September 15, 2023
  The Toolbox includes resources for consumer-packaged goods manufacturers, caterers, restaurants, kitchen incubators, food trucks, and farmers who are ready to monitor and track their financial records and access financing in the next 18 – 24 months.

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  Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses, Eighth Edition

  Published on March 21, 2023
  The eighth edition of this directory provides an overview of various financing sources available to food-related businesses in Michigan and across the United States.

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  Local Sourcing: It is Easier Than You Think

  Published on July 1, 2022
  Learn strategies to source more locally produced foods in your business.

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  Webinar Series: Loan Preparation for New and Beginning Farmers

  Published on March 7, 2021
  Loans are an important tool for growing any business and if approached with the right groundwork, can be a beneficial part of your farm business development.

• Webinar Series: Food and Farm Business Sales Channel Deep Dives

  Published on April 10, 2020
  Learn about selling through CSAs, farmers markets, and retail grocery. These webinars provide food and farm businesses with insight into industry adjustments to novel coronavirus and considerations for selling through that venue.

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  Beyond Grants: Entrepreneurial Strategies for Funding Beginning Farmer Initiatives

  Published on November 4, 2018
  This report explores self-sustaining entrepreneurial fundraising strategies and activities and offers a creative pathway for evaluating strategies to fund Michigan's beginning farmer initiatives.

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  Pathways to $100K in Farm Sales: A Starting Point for Reaching Farm Sustainability

  Published on January 29, 2018
  This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a look at sales volumes, pricing and outlets you might need to reach $100,000 in sales.

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  Scale of Production Matrix

  Published on January 29, 2018
  This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a detailed look at potential infrastructure and equipment investments for different size small farms to help in planning and growth.

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  Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need

  Published on November 3, 2017
  This guide is meant to provide a road map to loan readiness and conventional and alternative credit access for beginning farmers. Access to financial capital is one of the largest obstacles for beginning farmers.

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  Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness

  Published on October 30, 2017
  At some point, most farmers need to make some changes and grow to sustain their business. Based on his lending work with hundreds of Michigan farmers, Mike Jordon developed the 10 steps contained in this guide to aid the growth of farming operations.

• Beginning Farmers: Crowdfunding for Small Farmers

  Published on October 2, 2017
  Crowdfunding is becoming more popular for small and beginning farmers. This guide aims to address how small and beginning farmers can use crowdfunding as a fundraising tool.