The program serves North Carolina’s seven western counties and has already started to make an impact among early recipients. One of the obstacles to business growth for farmers during the pandemic is access to affordable financing for infrastructure investments. Fines Creek resident Amber Ferguson was able to jump that hurdle using a grant that allowed her to purchase the equipment and materials she needed to start and grow an apiary. 

EMFS is up to more than just offering grants and loans, focusing on several priority areas over the next two years. These include promoting job creation and infrastructure development, providing business development and training, and growing local food entrepreneurs and community leadership.

In addition to funding farm improvements, the project has an apprenticeship program. While apprentices were slated to work on farms throughout the region this summer, apprentices will now support these farms remotely. Seven farms and organizations are seeking apprentices to help them launch online sales programs and increase their presence on social media. Apprentices receive $12 an hour.

Apprenticeship applications are available at jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/131950. For information about EMFS funding for farmers and food businesses, contact Katy Gould, director for the Haywood Community College Small Business Center, at 828.627.4512. EMFS is funded by N.C. State University, Appalachian Regional Commission and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.