Written by CEC fellow Michael Shuman with contributions from Jeff Rosen, Tom Willits, and CEC CEO Jenny Kassan.
This guide aims to help communities across the United States create their own investment funds to grow local food businesses. It grows out of the efforts of a network called PVGrows in which local food advocates are working together in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts to revitalize the local economy, support the agricultural community, and increase residents’ access to healthier food. From the beginning, PVGrows has given high priority to raising capital.