March 7th, 2013 Food Systems Working Group Webinar: “Economics 101: Developing Robust Local Food Systems in Central Appalachia
Click here to view a recording of this webinar.
Purpose: To deepen our collective understanding of how the food economy works, while informing our local food site visit at the Network’s 4th Annual Gathering in Asheville, NC.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Gain a common analysis of the economic argument, strategies, and impacts of developing a local food economy in Central Appalachia.
- Learn about the economic challenges & opportunities to grow the local food economy.
- Develop a set of key strategies and targeted investments for grantmakers to advance the local food economy.
Guest Speakers:
- Timothy Woods, Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky
- Leslie Schaller, member of the Central Appalachian Network and Director of Programming at ACEnet
- Kostas Skordas, Appalachian Regional Commission
Helpful Resources From Our Presenters:
- Tim Woods put together an excellent list of resources to help better inform your understanding of the strong and weak arguments for supporting local food systems. Click here to view this document.
- Leslie Schaller recommends reading the following publications, “Branding Study for Appalachian Local Food Economies,” “The 25% Shift: The Benefits of Food Localization for Northeast Ohio and How to Realize Them,” “The Local Meat Industry: Opportunities and Challenges in Central Appalachia”
- Kostas Skordas recommends reading, “Assessing the Landscape of Local Food in Appalachia”
February 28th, 2013 Angel Fund Webinar, “Learn How to Form Angel Investment Funds in Your Community.”
Purpose: This webinar provided members of the Network and their key economic development partners with strategic advice on how to identify and convene new angel investment funds, an important source of capital for communities in Appalachia!
Assessment Tool: The Angel Fund Project Partners developed a unique self assessment tool for grantmakers to use to determine if their community is a good fit for angel capital investments. Click here to download this document.
Guest Speakers:
- Senator Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will discuss the importance of increasing local investment in small business development in the Appalachian region in a recorded welcome.
- Steve Mercil, the CEO and founder of RAIN Source Capital will offer his expertise on how to identify and leverage angel fund investors.
- Tom Aman, board member of the West Virginia Angel Network will speak from his on-the-ground experience in convening angel funds in rural West Virginia.
- Ray Daffner, Entrepreneurship Initiative Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission will frame the angel capital resources available and the opportunities to create more angel funds in the Appalachian region.
- Becky Ceperley, President and CEO of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation will share a self-assessment tool developed by the Network for participants to use to determine if their community is a good fit for angel capital investments.
On October 27th, 2011″Moving from Vision to Action: A Framework for Advancing the Goals of the Appalachia Funders Network.”
Purpose: During this webinar, we asked members for their feedback on Startup Appalachia, a framework to bring purpose & focus to the goals of the Network, while aligning the Network with the interest of key Federal agencies, businesses, and nonprofits across the region.
In addition, the webinar also provides members with an update on the following:
- The Network Road Map – We recapped the purpose and goals of the Network
- Updated Work Plan – We discussed the work that has been moving forward between August and October
- Next Steps – We provided an overview for the work ahead