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The Center |
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Special Programs...
Our City in a GardenOur City in a Garden is an urban, Toledo-based system to produce, prepare, distribute, process, and preserve healthy food products in the community, and to accomplish these ends in a manner that stresses environmental sustainability.
CIFT MembershipSince 1995, CIFT has organized and managed a membership-based consortium of food industry companies, their suppliers, and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to enhance the economic viability of Ohio's food and agricultural sector through technology.
Energy & Environmental ManagementEnergy and environmental management initiatives can improve the bottom line for businesses through cost reduction and alternative revenue pathways, essentially enhancing market competitiveness.
Food SafetyThis page covers food safety issues ranging from safety recalls and safe food handling practices to regulatory guidelines.
Local InitiativesCIFT Local Initiatives include the Farm to School Program, Local Food Manufacturers Program, Agritourism and the Farm to Chef Program.
NOCKThe Agricultural Incubator Foundation's Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK) is a nonprofit kitchen facility designed to assist entrepreneurial efforts and expand current food-related businesses by providing access to a commercially licensed kithchen.
Northwest Ohio Energy Crop CenterThe mission of the Northern Ohio Energy Crop Center is the identification and evaluation of opportunities to involve regional growers, processors and other entrepreneurs in biofuel production.
Northwest Ohio Green Products CenterThe Northwest Ohio Green Products Center is a collaborative effort among several partnering organizations to provide the resources, technical assistance and business expertise to regional entrepreneurs or established manufacturers who currently produce, or plan to produce, green or biobased products.
USDA-ARS Technology Transfer ProgramUSDA-ARS technology transfer provides a means for moving promising technologies discovered through federal and university research into the public arena where they are developed into marketable products. USDA-ARS accomplishes this by forming partnerships with universities and private sector businesses.
In the CIFT Spotlight...
CIFT 2008 Report to IndustryA report of CIFT's 2008 programs, projects and activities Hoop HousesA CIFT hoop house feasibility study that will determine what plants are appropriate to plant and when these plants will generate the greatest economic return. Ohio Federal Stimulus Bill WebsiteAn Ohio website where parties interested in federal stimulus dollars can submit ideas. Ohio MarketMakerAn interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Ohio, providing an important link between producers and consumers. USDA Releases Beginning Farmers and Ranchers PublicationUSDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin EIB-53 (32 pp, May 2009) draws on data from annual surveys and the Census of Agriculture to provide policymakers with a better understanding of beginning farmers and ranchers, including how they contribute to U.S. agricultural production. Vertical Hydroponic Growing SystemsA high density vertical growing system designed for non-traditional production locations. The system enables plants to grow in significantly smaller spaces and in varying ground covers from concrete to parking lots.
CIFT Resources...
CIFT News ArchiveA repository of past CIFT news stories... CIFT RSS FeedsSubscribe to CIFT RSS feeds... CIFT Video LibraryA collection of CIFT event videos... Contact UsThe CIFT contact page with phone numbers, email addresses and directions... Privacy PolicyThe CIFT website privacy policy...Other Resources...
Current FDA RecallsThe Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over recalls involving food and pet & farm animal feed. This page is a list of the latest FDA food recall notices. Current USDA RecallsThe Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects and regulates meat, poultry products and eggs. This page is a list of the latest USDA food recall notices. FoodSafety.govFoodSafety.gov is your source for the latest news and information on food safety issues. Grants.govGrants.gov is your source to FIND and APPLY for federal government grants. Quick Reference Guide to Growth FinancingThis MEP guide provides information on general financing options, programs, and techniques available to small and medium-sized enterprises and companies pursuing growth oriented strategies.
CIFT News
CIFT and Agricultural Incubator Foundation Hosts Grant and Funding Strategies Forum
On May 21, 2009, CIFT hosted the third installment of the Northwest Ohio Agribusiness Breakfast Forum in conjunction with the Agricultural Incubator Foundation in Bowling Green, Ohio. The informal networking breakfasts are structured to provide information on current issues, trends and programs available to agricultural businesses in order to help build business capacity.
Deanne Maus, CIFT Agribusiness Specialist addressing the audience on agricultural grant and funding strategies
The May forum featured guest speakers, Deanne Maus, CIFT Agribusiness Specialist; Alan Sundermeier, Wood County Extension Educator; and Tom Moser, AgCredit, who were available to discuss grants and funding strategies for farms and agribusinesses. Deanne Maus began the session by providing some tips, tricks, and tools to help with funding searches. Maus has written and researched government and private foundation grants, and has training in both areas. She shared some general information for beginning grant writers as well as her experiences in dealing with researching and writing grants. The presentation also included general details on applying for the USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant Program, Rural Energy for America Program, Rural Business Enterprise Grant, The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Promotion Program Grant, and the Ohio Advanced Energy Fund’s Renewable Energy Program.
Alan Sundermeier, OSU Extension Wood County Educator, discussing SARE grant requirements
Alan Sundermeier, the Ohio State University Extension Wood County Educator, was also available to share his experiences as the Co-coordinator for the Ohio SARE program. The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education(SARE) Farmer Rancher Grant Program is a USDA sponsored fund for farmers striving for agriculture sustainability by protecting the environment, enhancing communities, and boosting profitability.Alan shared the details of the SARE grant requirements and give tips for a successful application. SARE Farmer Rancher Grants are available at a max of $6,000 per individual ($18,000 max for groups of 3 or more) and are used for indentifying specific problems and potential solutions in agriculture, on-farm research, demonstrations, and education. Proposals are limited to five pages and are due in December of each year. If selected, the grant money becomes available in the spring of the following year; just in time for production. Sundermeier also gave characteristics of successful applications including clearly defining the problem, include cooperators, belong to a local or state group, and include an outreach component.
Tom Moser, Ag Credit Services, providing a summary of AgCredit and the Farm Credit System
Tom Moser, Associate Vice President of Operations from Ag Credit Services, completed the program with a summary of AgCredit and the Farm Credit System. With 14 branch offices covering 18 counties in Ohio serving over 4,500 members of the rural community, AgCredit has a myriad of programs and services available for numerous individuals and businesses. As a member-owned agricultural lending cooperative, Ag Credit serves the needs of farmers and agribusinesses, and provides rural America witha dependable source of funding for agriculturally-related enterprises. Included in these services Moser discussed the Down Payment Farm Ownership Loan Program available in conjunction with the Farm Service Agency. This program assists beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged applicants to purchase a farm or ranch. An example of the program includes 25 acres appraised at $107,000 and purchased for $100,000. The loan package offered through AgCredit and the FSA break down to a 5% down payment of $5,000; 50% Ag Credit Loan for $50,000 for 30 years at a 7.5% interest rate; and finally 45% of an FSA loan at $45,000 for 20 years at 1.5% interest rate. This type of program makes it very affordable over the life of the loan.
For additional information, please view the following presentation slides...
Funding Strategies: Tips, Tricks and Tools - Deanne Maus, Agribusiness Specialist, Center for Innovative Food Technology
How to Apply for SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants - Alan Sundermeier, Educator, OSU Wood County Extension
Farm Credit, Ag Credit - Tom Moser, Associate Vice President of Operations, Ag Credit Services
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