What Can Be: Regional Food Systems Video Story from Warren County, NC

This video outlines the economic redevelopment project of Working Landscapes in Warrenton, North Carolina, telling the story of two rural leaders who moved home to Warren County to contribute to their local economy by building a small processing center. The video focuses on this project as an example of the larger regional context of food system development, and brings in experts from UNC’s School of Government to discuss the economic impacts of building regional food systems.

Local and regional governments are invited and encouraged to use this video in their own agricultural economic development efforts with appropriate credits! With questions about the video, please contact Robyn Stout, NC 10% Campaign Coordinator, at rdstout@ncsu.edu.

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Presentation on Local Food Economies as a Rural Development Strategy

This presentation was presented as part of the APA-NC (American Planning Association, North Carolina Chapter) Section 5 Professional Development Workshop on May 19, 2017, in Edenton, NC. The presentation includes an overview of local food economies in North Carolina, NCGT models for regional and local work, resources, and case studies from across North Carolina.

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Training Session: Economic Development for Extension Agents at Annual Extension Conference

This session, presented by NC Growing Together, Community Food Strategies, and Community & Resource Development, provided training for agents on working with local governments and food policy councils to advance agriculture issues at the local and regional level. The session was presented during the 2016 annual N.C. Cooperative Extension Conference in Raleigh on November 15.

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Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting

This presentation, given November 16, 2016, twas designed to educate council of government members (primarily elected officials from constituent local government units) about local food economies and resources and tools available for their use. The presentation also featured new research and data from the Triangle Farms for Food Report, sponsored by the Conservation Trust of North Carolina and published in November 2016.

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Keynote Presentation to the North Carolina SBC-SBTDC Annual Professional Development Conference

NC Growing Together was invited to present the keynote speech and a work session during the annual professional development conference of the Small Business Center Network and the Small Business & Technology Development Centers of North Carolina. Presented November 15-16, 2016, this presentation was designed to educate small business counselors and developers about local food economies and resources and tools available for their use. SBC, SBTDC, CEFS, and NCGT will continue to work together in the coming year to design resources specific to the business needs of farm and food businesses across the state.

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Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government (ARCOG)

This presentation was given December 1, 2016, to the Board of Delegates of the Association of Regional Councils of Government in North Carolina. The information was designed to educate council of government directors, regional planners, and regional economic developers about local food economies and resources and tools available for their use. The Board agreed to work with CEFS and NC Growing Together on developing regional agricultural development & food system initiatives across the state.

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Webinar Presentation to Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) on Local & Regional Food Economies

This webinar was hosted by Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL), an organization that connects, educates, and encourages collaboration among local government professionals across the nation. The webinar was recorded October 11, 2016, and can be accessed via membership in ELGL (see www.elgl.org for more information). The presentation discussed local food systems in the context of state and national trends, provided success stories from North Carolina for other communities interested in developing local food systems, and explored ways that local  and regional governments can be involved in building food economies.

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Presentation to the Dan River Health Collaborative

This session was presented to the Dan River Health Collaborative Annual Health Summit in conjunction with Ann Meletzke from the Alamance Health Collaborative. The DRHC is supported by the Danville Regional Foundation and works to create healthy environments in the Dan River Region of Virginia. The presentation discussed local food systems in the context of public health and provided success stories from North Carolina for other communities interested in developing local food systems.

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Planning Strategies for Local Food Economies

This session was presented September 16, 2016, at the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association Annual Conference in Asheville, NC. The presentation was co-hosted by CEFS’ Local Food Economies Initiative and Community Food Strategies.

The information was designed to educate planners about local food systems and local food supply chains in North Carolina, and provide specific tools and real-world examples from Carolina communities who have begun to work with food systems from a planning and development perspective. The presentation includes four slides at the end with the questions, ideas, and responses from the Q&A portion of the session.

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A Guide for Governments on Building Local Food Economies

This guide focuses primarily on North Carolina examples of local and regional governments working with communities to create innovative local food economies. It serves as a tool to connect planners, economic developers, small business developers, and other local government professionals with resources to help them expand, strengthen, and maintain their regional food economies.

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