JCFM accepts donations to support the BIPOC Start-Up Business Fund as well as food access programs and market operation. This community-funded small grant provides new BIPOC-owned market businesses with between $500 and $1,500 during their first season of operation to cover some of the costs associated with getting started - a market canopy, weights, tables, permit and vendor fees, for example. In addition to the farmer training, JCFM is offering a third season of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Start-Up Business Fund. “Farmer training can include anything from creating a land lease agreement to identifying product pricing that covers the cost of production.” “We contracted with NODC’s Sustainable Agricultural Coordinator, Mark Bowman, to offer JCFM farm vendors, as well as farmers who are working to grow their business to be market-ready, one-on-one support to address their development and stability needs,” Milholland said. The grant supports a part-time marketing coordinator position to increase promotion efforts, as well as supporting the development of local farms through training and technical assistance offered by its grant partner, North Olympic Development Council (NODC). It will disperse the funds over a period of three years. Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program. To aid in that, JCFM has received a $174,941 grant from the U.S. “Now we are ready to work towards growth in support of local small businesses and our community in 2023,” Milholland said. This year has been one of stabilization and new business incubation. “Some of the farm, food, and art businesses that are loved by our community went out of business or restructured away from the Market during COVID-19. At the same time, we recognize that inflation as well as supply and labor shortages increase operating costs and challenges for local businesses, reducing their profit. “We celebrate this success and are so grateful for the community support that made it possible. The 2,500 shoppers was a vast improvement over 2020-21, but in pre-pandemic seasons during busy summer markets, there have been upwards to 3,500 shoppers, she said.Ģ6 percent over last year,” Milholland said.
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