Please see below for information about a very exciting project in the works in eastern Washtenaw County to develop a shared used incubator kitchen!

If you or your business, organization, school, etc is a prospective kitchen user, please take our survey, available at http://tinyurl.com/8294kbm

 “On behalf of the Washtenaw County Board of County Commissioners, the Office of Community and Economic Development is exploring developing a food system workforce development program and commercial kitchen incubator with the expressed desire to:
Improve the economic climate in the county by fostering agri-business economic development and creating accessible opportunities for food-based entrepreneurs;
Provide training and jobs for chronically unemployed workers in a low-skill, meaningful job in the growing agribusiness and food service sector, with opportunities to advance into other full-time employment opportunities; and
Improve health and nutrition outcomes for local low-income residents through the production of and access to local food.
To help us identify needs and opportunities for a commercial kitchen and kitchen incubator facility, we ask that you take a few minutes to respond to this CONFIDENTIAL survey.  You will also be able to receive information as we move forward with this project by supplying your contact information.
Thank you for your help; we look forward to hearing from you.”
Sincerely,

Mary Jo Callan, Director
Office of Community & Economic Development

For more information on this project, please contact Tony VanDerworp, project manager at vanderworpa@ewashtenaw.org

Many schools in southeast Michigan have launched Farm to School programs in the last few years.  October is the first ever National Farm to School month.  There are now Farm to School programs in all 50 states.  Alan Breneman, Food Service Director with Concord Community Schools in Jackson County has been a leader in sourcing local food from area farms for the school meals program.  Click here for more information about Concord’s successful Farm to School program.  Concord press release

Public News Service-MI   September 28, 2011
LANSING, Mich. – Among the many issues facing the so-called congressional “Super Committee” is deciding which farm bill programs will be cut, and by what amount. Two Michigan Republicans, Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton, sit on the committee, which is charged with finding at least $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction steps during the next 10 years.

Jennifer Fike, executive director of the Food System Economic Partnership, says it’s crucial for the congressmen to remember that agriculture is Michigan’s second-largest industry, and that investing in this sector means creating jobs.  “As our state has suffered drastically in the decline in the automotive sector, that’s a big issue for us in Michigan.”  There have already been significant cuts since the 2008 Farm Bill, Fike says, and further cuts will have a direct impact on the state’s economy.

“There are five-year goals to grow that sector from $71 billion to $100 billion, and these farm-bill programs will help us to be able to grow the sector, including growing careers in the agriculture field by about 10 percent.”

Agriculture leaders acknowledge that Congress faces difficult decisions as it works to slash the deficit, but they urge the committee members to protect programs which support farmers and ranchers who are good stewards of the land. 

Fike says it’s critical to preserve programs that help bring new farmers into the field as well as anti-hunger programs, renewable energy, conservation and research. Click here to view this story on the Public News Service RSS site and access an audio version of this and other stories: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22405-1

The Michigan Commission of Agriculture & Rural Development unanimously approved a resolution during the September meeting in support of National Farm to School Month which is scheduled for October.  The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Fike and can be accessed here. Resolution -National Farm to School Month.

FSEP in partnership with Growing Hope and Washtenaw Public Health presented on opportunities in Agricultural Economic Development to the Eastern Leaders Group. View the presentation and case statement here.

Upcoming conference in Detroit to discuss food supply and demand issues and develop innovative strategies to address food access issues in southeast Michigan.

Fighting Hunger: A United Effort
Gleaners Community Food Bank
2131 Beaufait Street • Detroit, MI 48207

Monday, October 3, 2011
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker:
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee

Join us for:
Collaborative Café –  An Exhibit of  Innovative Food Access Strategies
Panel Discussion on Food Supply and Demand
Breakout Sessions to Determine What’s Next
Tours of Local Best Practices Sites

This important Summit will focus on regional collaboration towards closing the gap between food supply and demand. We hope you will be a part of the solution.

For information or to request participation in the
Collaborative Café Display (Space is Limited):
Contact: Giancarlo J. Guzman
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
313-226-9350 or email giancarlo.guzman@liveunitedsem.org