Grow Food. Cultivate Communities.

A 360° approach to urban farming via human capital

development.

Vision.

Create a commercially viable nonprofit enterprise based on healthy,

environmentally sustainable fundamentals that improves the quality of life for people

in underserved communities.

Create a commercially viable nonprofit enterprise based on healthy,

environmentally sustainable fundamentals that improves the quality of life for people

in underserved communities.

Informed marketsInformed markets

demand information.demand information.

Making healthy choices isn’t always easy.

Making healthy choices isn’t always easy.

Especially among urban populations.

Especially among urban populations.

1800 chefs surveyed think this stuff is pretty important. Why? Because it matters to their diners.

Source: American Culinary Federation

And more consumers buy locally grown food because it is better for

our economy, our environment and our health.

And more consumers buy locally grown food because it is better for

our economy, our environment and our health.

Enough of them to even call it a movement.

Enough of them to even call it a movement.

Current Community Conditions

• Poor health• Food deserts• Weak local economy• Mass exodus• Blight• High unemployment• Crime• Large ex-offender

populations

• Local need/regional demand for healthy, sustainable food supply

• City support• Land & buildings• Established ecosystem• Relationships• Underutilized workforce• Increased tax credits

Deficits

Deficits

AssetsAssets

Massive Southside Revitalization

Massive Southside Revitalization

Green Healthy Neighborhoods initiative plans to redevelop 13 square miles—that’s 11,000 city lots or 800

acres—much of it dedicated to urban agriculture.

Provisional Model

Urban Agriculture

.

.

Fundraising Transitional Employment

Education Job Training Placement

Healthier Communiti

es

Healthier Communiti

es

Urban Urban AgriculturAgricultur

ee

Urban Urban AgriculturAgricultur

ee

Transitional Employmen

t

Transitional Employmen

t

Education Job

Training Placement

Education Job

Training Placement

Fundraising

Fundraising

Produce

Fish

Poultry

Beekeeping/Honey

Distribution

• 33% Local Community

• Farmer’s Markets

• Restaurants

• Local Grocers

Agricultural Training

Code of Conduct

Life Skill Training

World of Work Training

Seasonal vs. Year-round

Career Assessment

Career Counseling

Corrective Guidance

Financial Aid Support

Identify Resources

Case Management and Tracking

Supportive Services

Community Education Outreach

Placement Assistance

• Agency Relationships

• Tax Credit Admin

Immediate & Ongoing!

Possible Funding Sources

• Product Sales

• Public Corrections Grants

• Public Job Training Grants

• Private Foundations

• Corporate Partners

• Marketing & Public Relations

• Crowdfunding & Donations

Lifecycle duration 8 to 24 months(?)

Enterprise Model Lifecycle

Enterprise Model Lifecycle

SWOT AnalysisStrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknesses

OpportunitiesOpportunities ThreatsThreats

• Nonprofit Experience

• Government Relationships

• Community Development Experience

• Employment Tax Credit Prowess & Resources

• Staffing Industry Relationships

• Measureable Outcomes

• Nonprofit Experience

• Government Relationships

• Community Development Experience

• Employment Tax Credit Prowess & Resources

• Staffing Industry Relationships

• Measureable Outcomes

• Nonprofit Relationships

• Marketing Experience

• Foundation Relationships

• Workforce Development Experience

• Restaurant Industry Relationships

• Financial Stewardship

• Nonprofit Relationships

• Marketing Experience

• Foundation Relationships

• Workforce Development Experience

• Restaurant Industry Relationships

• Financial Stewardship

• Agricultural Experience

• Limited Funds to Start

• Unfamiliar with Local Community

• No Current Infrastructure

• Economic Engine Uncertainty

• No Budget = No Fundraising Targets

• Board Members Not Yet Identified

• Lots of Moving Parts

• Agricultural Experience

• Limited Funds to Start

• Unfamiliar with Local Community

• No Current Infrastructure

• Economic Engine Uncertainty

• No Budget = No Fundraising Targets

• Board Members Not Yet Identified

• Lots of Moving Parts

• Strong Market Demand

• Universally Appealing Mission

• City Support

• Established Ecosystem

• Land & Buildings Available Due to Blight & Flight

• Underutilized Workforce

• Strong Market Demand

• Universally Appealing Mission

• City Support

• Established Ecosystem

• Land & Buildings Available Due to Blight & Flight

• Underutilized Workforce

• Increased Tax Credits

• Faith-based Relationships

• Corporate Partnership Opportunities

• Powerful Social Media & PR Resources for Fundraising

• Accelerated Release of Overcrowded Prison Populations

• Increased Tax Credits

• Faith-based Relationships

• Corporate Partnership Opportunities

• Powerful Social Media & PR Resources for Fundraising

• Accelerated Release of Overcrowded Prison Populations

• Violence & Crime

• Government Red-tape

• Competition for Contiguous Land Parcels

• Poorly Educated Community & Workforce

• Unreliable Workforce Dynamics

• Carpetbagger Perception

• Limited Leadership Bandwidth

• Seasonal vs. Year-round Enterprise

• Violence & Crime

• Government Red-tape

• Competition for Contiguous Land Parcels

• Poorly Educated Community & Workforce

• Unreliable Workforce Dynamics

• Carpetbagger Perception

• Limited Leadership Bandwidth

• Seasonal vs. Year-round Enterprise

Foundational Choices

• Independent vs. Cooperative approach?

• Which partnership combination can be most impactful?

• Workforce Development: Ex-offenders vs. Veterans vs. Community at-large?

• Scope and phasing of workforce development services?

• Seasonal vs. 365 operation?• Location to originate launch?

Immediate Needs• Inventory Relevant

Relationships• Name, Mission

Statement & Bylaws Revision

• Government Roadmap

• Operational Roadmap

• Provisional Budget• Initial Funding!

• Inventory Relevant Relationships

• Name, Mission Statement & Bylaws Revision

• Government Roadmap

• Operational Roadmap

• Provisional Budget• Initial Funding!

• A Strategic Board of Directors

• Logo, Website & Presentation Materials

• Coordinated Digital Fundraising Plan

• Provisional Org Chart

• Key Core Employees

• A Strategic Board of Directors

• Logo, Website & Presentation Materials

• Coordinated Digital Fundraising Plan

• Provisional Org Chart

• Key Core Employees

Planting seeds can change lives.

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mathew 17:14-20)