Unlock your farm or food business’s potential with Empowering Mountain Food Systems’ personalized 1:1 Business Counseling. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, our tailored counseling sessions provide hands-on guidance to help you navigate the unique challenges of the food and agriculture industry in the mountain region.

Click the purple button to schedule your free consultation today!

We collaborate with each Small Business Center in our project region. Each SBC also provides one on one counseling and resources to help farm businesses thrive. 

In addition to free consultations, we also coordinate with county Cooperative Extension and Small Business Center offices to plan workshops and networking events.

Check out our Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming event opportunities in your area.

Financial Support Services 

Coming Soon:

Appalachian Dairy & Meat Processor Grants

Loan assistance with Partner Community Capital

Hurricane Helene Supplies Grant

In response to the devastation of the WNC region from Hurricane Helene, we have awarded $100,000 of our small business grant funds to assist farmers impacted by the storm. This award cycle was launched earlier than planned due to the hurricane and will provide crucial support to local farms struggling to recover.

On Thursday, January 9, 2025 EMFS, in collaboration with Country Farm and Home of Pittsboro, NC, AgCare of Candler, and the facilities team at the NC State Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, distributed $6,234.39 worth of supplies to four Buncombe County farmers. This partnership provided farmers with high-quality equipment from Country Farm and Home, while the station staff generously lent their expertise and manpower to assist with the loading and transportation of heavy equipment such as wooden posts, metal fencing, barbed wire, and more to help get these farms back up and running. Learn more here.