A Message from the Center | |
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Greetings from the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center!
We are pleased to bring you our first newsletter of 2025 and provide you with an update on our initial year and a half of operations. It’s been busy but productive!
Our 6 state and 4 focus area teams have been building and delivering technical assistance programs in food safety, business plan development, business operations and financing, new funding opportunities, product development, marketing and more. To date, more than 450 businesses and 680 individuals have benefited from our programming, in 165 counties. Our events calendar will keep you up to date on Center happenings.
Our teams have also been putting the region’s Business Builder program on the ground, providing funding to farm and food businesses to help them scale, enter new markets, and expand their impact. To date, our Building Meat Supply Chains team has awarded noncompetitive grants to several businesses that have completed technical assistance programs; and Colorado and Idaho are in the process of determining their Business Builder grant awards. Several teams are executing their first round of competitive grant through Diverse Markets, Scaling Food Entrepreneurs, and Building Meat Supply Chains.
We recognize we are in a time of change, as well as uncertainty. Our Center is committed to communicating our programs and results in a timely manner and fulfilling our commitments to our stakeholders and communities, balancing community needs with new guidance from our USDA partners at the federal level. Should you have questions about our programs or how we work, please reach out to us here, and we will get back to you promptly.
Martha Sullins
Assistant Director, Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center
Extension Regional Specialist, Colorado State University
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The Northwest and Rocky Mountain USDA Regional Food Business Center Announces Three New Business Builder Grant Programs Aimed at Strengthening Local and Regional Food Systems | |
Requests for applications (RFAs) have officially launched for three new Business Builder grant programs, funded by the Northwest and Rocky Mountain USDA Regional Food Business Center. In the Northwest and Rocky Mountain region, these grants are designed to empower small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses, helping them scale, enter new markets, and expand their impact. The program also extends to essential partners—aggregators, processors, distributors, and more—who play a critical role in bringing local food to market.
“The Center is in the midst of lots of exciting initiatives, including active Business Builder grant programs, customized to address key issues identified by our state and theme advisory boards,” said Dawn Thilmany, director of the Northwest and Rocky Mountain USDA Regional Food Business Center. “We are excited to hear about, read applications from and consider how the Center can help a number of enterprises envision new ideas for their local and regional marketplaces in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado.”
Read the full press release here.
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Diverse Markets Business Builder Small Grants Application Deadline: March 1, 2025 (11:59pm MT) | |
Enhancing Local and Regional Meat Supply Chains Business Builder Grant Application Deadline:
March 7, 2025 (11:59pm MT)
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Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs Business Builder Grant Application Deadline:
April 1, 2025 (11:59pm MT)
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Washington State Feature Episodes on the Meaningful Marketplace Podcast
In November and December 2024, the Washington team partnered with the Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs team and the Meaningful Marketplace Podcast to record eight podcast episodes featuring Washington food and farm businesses. Thank you to all of the amazing businesses who joined us and shared stories, products, and advice for other business owners and operators!
You can listen to the Washington business features by tuning into episodes 214-221 of the Meaningful Marketplace Podcast. Washington will be featured again, airing in January 2026.
You can also learn more about innovative food businesses throughout our Northwest and Rocky Mountain Region by listening to the feature episodes from each state within our region. Stay tuned for more episodes this year!
The Meaningful Marketplace Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you like to listen to podcasts. Love what you heard? Be sure to give the podcast a 5-star rating!
Have food-related questions or interested in being a future guest on the Meaningful Marketplace Podcast? Call the hotline at 503-395-8858!
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Washington Network Meeting Recap
On January 23rd, the Washington Regional Food Business Center team held a virtual meeting for food and farm business service providers throughout the state. 50 attendees gathered to learn more about the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center and to engage in discussions on current gaps and opportunities in supporting farm and food businesses within Washington.
The meeting resulted in 12 pages of community insight and several nominations for open advisory committee spots. The Washington team is currently analyzing the notes for cross-cutting themes and planning continued engagement with resource providers throughout the state.
Thank you to everyone who attended! For those interested in viewing the recording, you can find the video through our Washington State RFBC webpage. If you would like to schedule a follow-up conversation, please reach out to state coordinator Emily Whittier at Emily.whittier@wsu.edu.
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How and When to Work with the Food Innovation Center: A Conversation with Sarah Masoni | |
Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs Team at the Fancy Food Show
The Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs theme team made a powerful impact at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, Nevada! We proudly sponsored 10 food entrepreneurs in the Incubator Village and 4 in the Startup Pavilion, giving them a platform to showcase their innovative products to buyers, distributors, and industry leaders.
We also took over programming for the new Spark Showcase, featuring dynamic cohort pitches and an insightful RFBC panel on strengthening regional food systems. Beyond the show floor, we fostered meaningful connections with fellow Regional Food Business Centers, including Rio Grande Colonias and Appalachia, furthering our mission to support and uplift food entrepreneurs across the country.
Applications are now open to join our cohort for the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC.
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Subscribe to Voices from the Peak: Exclusive News and Resources Through an Indigenous Lens
Our partner, Tahoma Peak Solutions, is thrilled to welcome you to the debut of Voices from the Peak, a newsletter created to keep trusted partners at the forefront of Native news and insights. As part of the Voices from the Peak network, you’ll receive insider resources tailored to be highly relevant and actionable towards your continued efforts in cultural competence and meaningful collaboration with Indian Country.
We welcome sharing this subscription link with any colleagues and contacts that can benefit from Native perspectives on problem-solving, storytelling, and systems thinking.
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Stay Up to Date on RFBCs Nationwide
Centers & Center Partners can now subscribe to the Regional Food Business Center Digest directly. Stay updated on nationwide RFBC news by subscribing here.
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Business Builder Grants: Request for Applications Open
Business Builder grants are a new funding program being offered through USDA’s network of Regional Food Business Centers (RFBCs).
Grant funds are intended to be used to improve business skills, strengthen the viability of your business, expand your access to markets, or strengthen local and regional food and agriculture supply chains.
Current grant offerings include Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs, Enhancing Local and Regional Meat Supply Chains, and Diverse Markets. Applications are open to all states: WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, and CO.
Programs will continue to roll out through 2025. Watch for updates on the Center website and in future newsletters.
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Introduction to the Montana Local Food Financing Partnership
Plan to attend an informative session on the Montana Local Food Financing Partnership (MLFFP), an initiative designed to support food businesses in Montana through tailored financial solutions. Led by Mission West Community Development Partners, in collaboration with Hopa Mountain and the Montana Department of Agriculture, this session will provide an overview of funding opportunities available to food retailers, food hubs, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
Participants will learn about:
- Eligibility Criteria
- Application Process
- Credit Enhancement Programs
- Fund-Matching Opportunities
This workshop is ideal for entrepreneurs, food retailers, and community organizations looking to expand their food access initiatives in underserved Montana communities.
Two workshops are available: February 19 and March 12, 2025.
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Save the Date: Native American Agriculture Fund 2025 Grant Request for Applications Opens March 1
To start this year, we recommend reviewing NAAF's trust agreement to prepare for our upcoming grant application. NAAF was established through the Keepseagle v Vilsack class action settlement. NAAF is committed to developing access to capital for Native producers through our eligible entities as we continue advancing Indian Country agriculture.
If you have any questions about NAAF grants, please email grants@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org.
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New Guide to Wholesaling Meat and Building a Brand | |
Published at the end of 2023, this new guide is for meat producers or processors that are considering making the foray into wholesaling meat to restaurants, retailers, institutions, and others.
The 32-page guide is written by a grassfed beef sales specialist, Kathryn Quanbeck, and industry veteran Brian Brozovic, along with Rebecca Thistlethwaite of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network at Oregon State University.
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Central Wyoming College Beginner Farmer Training Program: Regenerative Food Systems | |
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The Beginner Farmer Training Program at Central Wyoming College is designed to help aspiring and beginning farmers develop financially and environmentally sustainable farm businesses.
This program is designed to create a strong foundation in the skills and knowledge that new and beginning farmers need to be successful. As part of their coursework, students will:
- Visit well established local and regional farms.
- Gain training and experience in selling at local farmers markets.
- Create individual business plans.
- Students who complete the program will have the opportunity to lease ASI Farm Incubator plots next season.
The program starts April 2, 2025.
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Diverse Markets Business Builder Grants - Office Hours 2
February 13, 2025
4pm-5pm MT
Live via Zoom
Join the Diverse Markets Team for Office Hours to ask your questions about the Diverse Markets Business Builder Grant Program. This session will be recorded and posted to the website. You can find the recordings from past informational sessions here.
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Wyoming Business Builder Office Hours
February 13, 2025
6pm-8pm MT
Live via Zoom
To join, contact Jennifer Faulkner, jennifer.faulkner@uwyo.edu
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Grant & Grow WY
February 15, 2025
9am-3:30 pm MT
Big Horn, Wyoming
Grants and funding opportunities to help grow your farm/ranch production and business! Topics covered: forward contacts and food purchasing agreement grants, on-farm research grants, farm business grants, and food system expansion grants.
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Local and Regional Foods Division Webinar Series Visualizing Food Systems Data
February 20, 2025
11am-12pm MT
Live via Zoom
With the increasing reliance on data for decision-making, data visualization can be a useful tool to simplify complex information and share insights in a way that can be easily understood by many audiences. This month's webinar will highlight the Food and Agriculture Mapper and Explorer (FAME) and other data visualization tools that focus on local and regional food systems. The presentation will include some specific use cases to illustrate practical uses of these tools for food systems practitioners.
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Tenacious Farmers Exchange
February 20-21, 2025
Carnation, Washington
The Tenacious Farmers’ Exchange (TFE): Farming for a Climate Resilient Future is two-day, farmer-led event tailored to empower farmers and ranchers with practical strategies for thriving in the face of climate change. TFE focuses on actionable pathways to restore soil health, boost resilience to climate impacts, and implement climate-smart agricultural practices that enable long-term profitability and viability of farming and ranching.
This immersive experience will feature farming professionals from Understanding Ag, LLC, who will share their knowledge, experience, and successful strategies in climate resilient & climate smart agriculture, while customizing their insights to the unique conditions & challenges of farming in the Snoqualmie River Valley and the broader Puget Sound region. Understanding Ag’s instructors are real farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. with decades of combined experience in regenerative agriculture who have worked with farmers throughout the country and abroad.
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Good Food Connections
February 24, 2025
Seattle, Washington
Presented by Seattle Good Business Network, Good Food Connections unites farmers, fishers, artisans, chefs, buyers, and community food stakeholders around a common table for networking, conversation, education, and good food.
Make market connections and strengthen the regional food system serving King County & Puget Sound at this in-person event. We look forward to a day of lively panel discussions and presentations, a catered lunch featuring local producers, a robust trade show and tasting event to introduce buyers to the best of the region, networking opportunities, and more.
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Unveiling the 2nd Edition Shared Kitchen Tookit
February 24, 2025
1pm-2pm MT
Live via Zoom
Join us for an exclusive webinar as we celebrate the launch of the 2nd Edition Shared Kitchen Toolkit, the most comprehensive resource for shared kitchen operators! The Food Corridor, in partnership with Fruition Planning & Management, invites you to an engaging discussion with Toolkit co-authors Ashley Colpaart and Dawn Meader McCausland as they walk you through the latest edition of this essential industry guide.
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Processing of Acidified Foods - Mt. Vernon
February 26, 2025
Mount Vernon, Washington
Geared towards small and medium scale producers of preserves, sauces, dressings and vinegars, snacks, baked goods, and other value-added products.
This workshop will provide the region’s small to medium scale prepared food producers with up-to-date information and technical knowledge of the food product development process for the specialty food industry and how to bring such products to market, targeted to start-up entrepreneurs and food product developers.
Participants will be guided through the various steps from concept development to the market, with an emphasis on factors to consider for scaling up the product from the kitchen to commercial production. Speaker(s) will provide examples to illustrate the steps and end goal.
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Processing of Acidified Foods - Monroe
February 27, 2025
Monroe, Washington
Geared towards small and medium scale producers of preserves, sauces, dressings and vinegars, snacks, baked goods, and other value-added products.
This workshop will provide the region’s small to medium scale prepared food producers with up-to-date information and technical knowledge of the food product development process for the specialty food industry and how to bring such products to market, targeted to start-up entrepreneurs and food product developers.
Participants will be guided through the various steps from concept development to the market, with an emphasis on factors to consider for scaling up the product from the kitchen to commercial production. Speaker(s) will provide examples to illustrate the steps and end goal.
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San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
February 28-March 1, 2025
Lopez Island, Washington
This is a unique opportunity to connect with farmers, food producers, and community members dedicated to fostering a thriving local food system in San Juan County.
2025 Theme: Setting the Table for an Abundant Future
This year’s theme aligns with the newly developed San Juan County Food System Plan. The Summit will provide a space to envision a resilient and abundant food future while equipping participants with practical skills to make it a reality today.
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Naturally Network at Expo West
March 4-7, 2025
Anaheim, California
Get Ready for Naturally Network at Expo West 2025! Join us for an incredible lineup of opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with the Naturally Network community:
Power Up Expo West Kick-Off Party
Start the show off right with an evening of celebration and networking!
Series & Breakfast
Productive Conversations with Retailers and Investors: get insider knowledge and build valuable connections with this hybrid experience.
Open House
Celebrate the Minority-Owned Fellowship, powered by NIQ, in partnership with The Angel Group and UNFI, at this inspiring event spotlighting the next wave of trailblazing brands.
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Colorado Grain Summit
March 8, 2025
Salida, Colorado
The Colorado Grain Summit aims to inspire businesses using local grains to envision pathways for sustainable growth and increased market impact. This single-day conference will feature curated networking sessions, expert panels, and keynotes highlighting innovative success stories across the grain supply chain. Our goal is to create an environment that fosters partnerships, provides pathways to market expansion, and connects grain producers with businesses across Colorado.
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Northwest Food Hub Network Summit
March 13-14, 2025
Spokane, Washington
Gather and learn with the food hub organizers, farmers, and advocates working together to strengthen our regional food system. Join us for two days of networking, on-site tours, and breakout sessions--plus, a full lineup of panels featuring perspectives from the front lines of food hub network development.
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Partners and Collaborators: |
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Center Leads: Colorado State University, Oregon State University
Regional/multi-state: Tahoma Peak Solutions, Network of Incubators and Community Kitchens (The Nick), Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Luna Bird, The Food Corridor
Colorado: Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University
Oregon: Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center, Oregon Community Food Systems Network, Oregon Food Hub Network
Idaho: University of Idaho, Idaho Department of Agriculture, FARE Idaho, Sun Valley Institute, Arrowleaf Consulting Group
Montana: Montana Department of Agriculture, Montana State University
Washington: Washington State University, Washington State Department of Agriculture
Wyoming: University of Wyoming, Central Wyoming College
USDA: Ag Marketing Service Collaborators and NW-Rocky Mountain Regional Coordinator
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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement
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