ACEnet Food Ventures Center

The Appalachian Center for Economic Appalachian Center for Economic NetworksNetworks

is a regional entrepreneurship and economic development organization

(501c3) located in Athens, Ohio.

ACEnet builds the capacity of communities to

network, work together and innovate to create a dynamic, sustainable regional

economy with opportunities for all.

Where We Work

Rolling foothills

Where We WorkSmall towns

Where We WorkPrimary

Service Area

Appalachia

Counties

Clients also come

from other

parts of Ohio and adjacent states

ACEnet Strategies

1. Training & technical assistance

2. Business incubation & infrastructure development

3. Access to capital services, partnerships & referrals

4. Capacity building through product innovation, branding & adoption of technology

Food Sector Development

At the crossroads of local food At the crossroads of local food economieseconomies

Environmental Environmental SustainabilitySustainability

Food Food Security Security for Allfor All

New Economic New Economic OpportunitiesOpportunities

Farms & Foodways

Food & farm microenterprises are part of our heritage

Long Tradition of Markets

Athens Farmers Market over 37 years old

Nurturing Food & Nurturing Food & Farm Farm

Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs

Reinventing Local Reinventing Local Infrastructure & Infrastructure &

Systems Systems

Enhancing Enhancing Food SecurityFood Security

Local Food Movement Local Food Movement PartnersPartners……cycling towards a local food cycling towards a local food economyeconomy

Reinventing Local InfrastructureReinventing Local Infrastructure……

Market Programs Distribution 1. Regional brands 1. Central warehouses2. Local brokers 2. Produce auctions3. Online marketing 3. Expand farmers market

4. Market pavilions/sheds

Production & Processing 1. Farm incubators 2. Expansion of shared-use processing facilities: produce, meat, dairy, bakery 3. Co-packing businesses emerge 4. Policy & regulatory obstacles alleviated for smaller scale producers

Design Issues•Operational use

•Licensing

•Equipment needs

•Management/staffing capacity

Shared-use Commercial Kitchen Facility

Timeline Highlights

1992-95 Raise funding for facility

1993-on Develop services & programming for food & farm entrepreneurs

1995 Close on property – begin renovation

1996 Open FV Center April 1996

1997 Start raising funds for expansion

2000 Facility expansion complete

2004 Seafood HACCP & ODA Meat license

Funding Partners

USDA – Rural Development

EDA – Dept of Commerce

Ohio Dept. of Agriculture

Local Bank Loans

Facility Specs

· 12,000 sq ft shared manufacturing

facility· 10 offices· 3 loading docks · Shipping and receiving· Conference and training room · Retail space· Storage for dry, refrigerated & frozen goods· Reception, fax, copier, computers

Processing & DistributionProcessing & Distribution

Approximately 85 tenants in Food Ventures--farmers, specialty food & foodservice

businesses

Bakery operations

Thermal processing

Foodservice

Frozen food

Dry packaging

Pasta production

ODA meat license

Seafood processing

Warehousing

Types of Operations & LicensesTypes of Operations & Licenses

Processing Operations

Bakery Operations

12 Convection Ovens Dough Roller / Bread Slicer

2 Proofers 5 Larger Capacity Mixers

Thermal Processing

185 gallon cooking capacity

250 gallon pre-mix vat

Semi-automated Production

Pulper-Finisher

Vertical Chopper/Mixer

Food Service

Cham’s Lebanese Cuisine

At ACEnet Her Own Restaurant

Warehousing and Distribution

Nurturing Food & Farm Nurturing Food & Farm EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs

……

Market access Distribution channels1. Market partners 1. Local distribution networks2. Buy Local campaigns 2. New delivery businesses3. Training programs 3. Online technologies applied

Production & Processing 1. Community gardeners evolve into local food entrepreneurs 2. Programs & agencies assist new & expanding farmers 3. Food & farm entrepreneurs have access to subsidized infrastructure/land 4. Policy & regulatory obstacles alleviated for smaller scale producers

Established Businesses Can Grow Significantly – Sales, Employees & Market

Reach

Farm Families – Focus on Value Adding

Specialty Food Producers

Regional Flare

Regional Food Branding

Ads, inserts &

demos

Regional Brands

Many New Food We Love Products

Accomplishments

The Food We Love™The Food We Love™ 

•Over 50 specialty food producers & farmers are featured in the Athens Kroger — Food We Love program.

•Shoppers can find over 200 different products in every food category across the store.

•ACEnet brokers & distributes Food We Love™ product lines to stores in Athens, Nelsonville, Middleport, Pomeroy, Cambridge & Shawnee.

•Seven regional grocery stores showcase Food We Love™ in the signature retail display units