The first year of work for the Northeast Minnesota Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) program provided support for $3.9 million in successful grant applications for projects that will help strengthen Northland food ecosystems. Duluth-based economic and community development nonprofit consulting firm Northspan is partnering with RFBC to improve regional food networks over the next five years by providing access to funding, support, and technical assistance to address current gaps and unmet needs.
The three primary goals of the program for the region are:
- Increase measures of community wealth
- Increase regional capacity for food independence
- Increase the production, distribution, and consumption of healthy, local food
Northspan is a sub-awardee of RFBC funding received by the Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) for the three-state area of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Northspan will coordinate the Northeast Minnesota RFBC program, which covers the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis, and the tribal nations of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Between October and December 2023, Northspan conducted a community-informed strategic planning process, which involved a stakeholder survey, as well as four strategic planning workshops that resulted in a map of the regional food network value chain, and the compilation of a five-year strategic plan reviewed by process participants.
The strategic plan provides a basis for further work in 2024-2028 with six strategic directions:
- Building infrastructure across food systems
- Creating supportive financial systems
- Educating consumers on value and impact
- Fostering education, training, and mentoring for producers
- Researching local food innovations and efficiencies
- Revamping priorities in food system policy
Northspan is a technical service provider that can help individuals, businesses, and other types of organizations apply for grants or other funding sources that align with the above. Successful grant applications include a $3.5 million U.S. EDA grant awarded to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe for a wild rice processing facility. Community Action Duluth and the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability are also among grant recipients so far.
“We’re looking forward to continuing this work through further outreach with food producers, distributors, and other parts of the Northland food ecosystem, including consumers, cafes, and restaurants,” said Northspan Consultant Shaun Hainey. “Funding and other types of support can help food producers increase their production and profitability. More broadly, we want to see an equitable investment in infrastructure and hopefully change the way financing around food works. That includes educating consumers on healthy choices that benefit our communities.”
You can view this press release and other news updates on the Northspan blog.
For more information, please contact Northspan Consultant Shaun Hainey at shainey@northspan.org
###
Northspan is a nonprofit consulting firm based in Duluth. With a vision to engage and elevate, Northspan’s mission is to be expert navigators, transforming ideas into accomplishments. Learn more at northspan.org.