Local Food Coordinator Position Created

At its meeting on Thursday, January 29, 2014, Urban County Council approved acceptance of a sub-grant from  the Blue Grass Community Foundation that provides major funding, along with support from LFUCG, for creation of a position of Local Food Coordinator within the Office of Economic Development on a one-year pilot basis.  The expectation  is that the pilot will demonstrate sufficient value to attract additional external funding and to justify making the position permanent within LFUCG.

The Local Food Coordinator will work to accelerate development of the local food economy within our region.  The Coordinator will work with producers to expand markets for local farm products, work to develop processing facilities and other value-added capacity, and support increased distribution and marketing services. The Coordinator also will  provide education for the general community about both the health and the economic benefits derived from increased availability of fresh, local food.

Many thanks to the underlying funders: Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky,  Kentucky Agricultural Development Board,  and Mt. Brilliant Foundation.  And many thanks to Kevin Atkins, Chief Development Officer, to Mayor Jim Gray, and to the many others inside and outside of LFUCG who worked on grant proposals and supported this effort in other ways.