Northwest Agriculture Business Center

IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY WITHIN NORTHWEST WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP: NABC IS FACILITATING THE FORMATION OF A QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE BODY OF COLLABORATORS TO WORK TOGETHER AS A FORWARD THINKING AND RESPONSIVE AGENT TO:SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR VALUE-ADDED FOOD PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION AND PROVIDE HANDS ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMS AND FOOD BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT EXPANSION AND GAIN ACCESS TO CAPITAL.CREATE A NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT FARMER-OWNED FOOD HUB COOPERATIVES, WHICH LEVERAGES EFFICIENCIES IN MARKETING AND PRODUCTION PLANNING, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, LOGISTICS, FINANCIAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT, AND IMPROVES PROFITABILITY.IMPLEMENT A REPLICABLE FOOD ACCESS MODEL IN WHICH FOOD HUBS, FARMERS, AND FOOD BANKS COLLABORATE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR FOOD BANK CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING A SPECIAL FOCUS ON USDA-DESIGNATED FOOD DESERTS AND AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY.NABC LEVERAGES LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MULTIPLE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, LENDING INSTITUTIONS, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, PRODUCER-OWNED COOPERATIVES, FOOD PRODUCERS AND OTHERS.

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT: NABC ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION, AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY COOPERATIVES AND MUTUALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. THESE SERVICES FOCUS ON STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT A RURAL WORKFORCE, PROVIDE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS OF RURAL WESTERN WASHINGTON STATE.NABC'S GOALS FOCUS ON EQUITABLY STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM AND IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC CONDITION OF RURAL AREAS BY WORKING WITH DIVERSE GROUPS OF FARMING COOPERATIVES AND PRODUCERS THROUGHOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON. NABC HAS FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS FOR RURAL PRODUCERS; INTRODUCED PRODUCERS TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ACCESS THESE PROGRAMS; AND CREATED NEW FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT SOURCE FOOD FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS.INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS WORK. NABC SUPPORTS REGIONAL EFFORTS TO INCREASE MEAT PROCESSING AND HAS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL GRAIN ECONOMY BASED ON ESTABLISHING GRAIN STORAGE AND RAIL TRANSLOAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON.

SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUP GRANT: NABC IS COMMITTED TO SERVING HISTORICALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES INCLUDING HISPANIC, HMONG/LAO, AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND U.S VETERANS. NABC DOES THIS BY SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. NABC STRIVES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN USDA AGENCY-SUPPORTED GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAMS. NABC SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO CONNECT PRODUCERS AND OTHERS TO USDA PROGRAMS BY COLLABORATING WITH USDA AGENCY STAFF TO PRESENT WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAM MATERIALS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AND USDA AGENCY STAFF. NABC ALSO PROVIDES HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND RESPECTFUL MANNER TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS GROUPS OF 'SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED' FARMERS TO MEET GRANT AND LOAN APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ACCURATE AND COMPELLING APPLICATIONS FOR USDA-FUNDED PROGRAMS; AND WIN GRANT AWARDS AND/OR OBTAIN LOANS. NABC ALSO WORKS WITH COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE FARM-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND INDIVIDUAL FARMER SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF BUSINESS PLANNING, MARKETING, OUTREACH AND MARKET ACCESS, FARM AND FOOD SAFETY, AND BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS.