The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill, in partnership with the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship (CADE) are accepting applications for participation in the Farm and Food Business Accelerator (FFBA). This is a program made possible by a USDA funded Agriculture Innovation Center grant.

Applicants to the program are established businesses that are interested in developing value-added products and bringing them to market in the Mohawk Valley. Applicants must produce 50+% of the product(s) used in the new value-added product. Applicants must also have some form of positive economic impact on the Mohawk valley region which can include sourcing supplies from the region, distributing products in the region, etc.

As a participant in the program, you will be offered a complete suite of services and resources tailored to your specific needs from the Institute for Rural Vitality and CADE. A snapshot of these services and resources includes support on new product development (from concept through commercialization), recipe development, testing, planning, legal and financial advisory services and connections to distributors, retailers and wholesalers inside and outside of the Mohawk Valley. Additional services and resources such as commercial kitchens, dairy processing, food packaging, and meat processing are available based on participant needs.

Applications to the FFBA Program are open. Review of submitted applications will begin upon receipt and will conclude November 1, 2022. The FFBA program start date is November 4, 2022 and runs through May 31, 2023. Full service and support are provided through the duration of the program. Entrepreneurs interested in applying should visit the Institute for Rural Vitality website www.cobleskill.edu/institute or contact the Institute for Rural Vitality at institute@cobleskill.edu.