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Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,  Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
 

Alabama

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  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business start-up.

 

Alaska

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Arizona

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  • Agricultural Resource Economics (AREC), University of Arizona - Site contains Arizona crop and livestock budgets, marketing and management information, regional economics and development information, environmental and natural resource policy information and contacts for extension personnel.
  • Food Safety and Environmental Services, Arizona Department of Health Services
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - business men and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business start-up.

 

Arkansas

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California

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  • Agricultural Issues Center, University of California.
  • California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) - The center's mission is to promote cooperatives as a vibrant business model to address the economic and social needs of California's communities by providing education and technical assistance. CCCD provides start-up assistance to producer cooperatives and annual seminars to inform directors of existing cooperatives about effective governance, strategic planning and other issues. The center works with other experts to develop value-added feasibility studies as well as business and marketing plans.
  • California Department of Food and Agriculture Resource Directory - This directory lists several hundred California and national contact addresses for extension and development specialists, advisory boards and commissions, agencies, and producer groups. It is available from the Office of Public Affairs.
  • Center for Economic Development (CED), California State University, Chico - The group's mission is to educate and build the knowledge and capacity of California Economic Development professionals and enhance the well being of the region's citizens by facilitating sustained, long-term and coordinated Economic Development strategies. Additionally, the center works with economic development organizations and the University of California, California State University and the community college network. Ways will be identified in which the center can maximize the expertise that currently exists in the market and transfer that technical assistance expertise to local communities and businesses.
  • Legal Sourcebook for California Cooperatives: Start-Up and Administration, A legal guide for co-ops incorporating and operating under the California Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law.
  • Small Farm Program, University of California - The Small Farm Program focuses on the challenges and opportunities of California’s small-scale farm operators. We develop field and marketing research aimed at the needs of small- and moderate-scale farmers, and provide that information to farmers who are often not reached by traditional extension programs. Our clients include farmers of many different cultures who operate a wide variety of farming operations, often with limited resources.
  • Sierra Economic Development District (SEDD) - A nonprofit corporation that works to stimulate and manage economic growth in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties. SEDD provides both technical and financial services and resources. On the technical side, SEDD acts as a liaison between business and local government funding sources. SEDD helps the public body apply for funding and provides the expertise in administration, marketing, loan packaging and credit approval.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.

 

Colorado

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Connecticut

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Delaware

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Florida

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Georgia

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Hawaii

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  • Food and Drug Branch, Hawaii State Department of Health.
  • Food Quality and Safety
  • The Small Business Resource - Designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.

 

Idaho

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Illinois

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Indiana

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Iowa

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Kansas

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Kentucky

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 Louisiana

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Maine

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  • Food Science and Human Nutrition Services, University of Maine.
  • Get Real Maine - The Maine Department of Agriculture sponsors this site to help Maine food and agricultural businesses make contact with prospective customers. The site also provides a comprehensive listing of sources for all Maine food and farm products, as well as lists for farmers markets, agricultural fairs, restaurants that feature real Maine ingredients, farms and greenhouses, orchards, CSA farms, Christmas tree farms and mail order agricultural products.
  • Maine Agricultural Statistics Service
  • Maine Extension Service County Offices
  • Maine International Trade Center (MITC) - MITC is Maine’s Center for international business assistance. The Center provides technical assistance and trade counseling, import and export leads, international credit reports, workshops, coordinated trade missions and trade shows, and many other useful services to help Maine companies seeking to succeed in international markets.
  • Maine Products Marketing Program - This Department of Economic and Community Development program helps to market Maine products.
  • Maine Small Business Development Centers - The Maine SBDC offices provide comprehensive business management assistance, training, and information services to Maine’s micro and small business community. 
  • Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship - The Center provides comprehensive assistance to beginning and established food entrepreneurs, promoting sustainable economic development of rural communities. The Center provides product assistance, regulatory, and limited business and marketing information.
  • The Office of Business Development, Department of Economic & Community Development - The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is a resource for programs and opportunities within the state for business development and market development.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.
  • Taxes and Permits, Home-Based Business Fact Sheet, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

 

Maryland

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Massachusetts

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Michigan

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Minnesota

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Mississippi

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Missouri

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Montana

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Nebraska

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Nevada

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  • Nevada Commission on Economic Development
  • Nevada Department of Business & Industry
  • Nevada Department of Tourism
  • Nevada Legislature
  • The Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) - A statewide resource for business assistance, providing a unique array of services, expertise and training in all areas including starting, growing and developing a business. The NSBDC also offers information and guidance in understanding and complying with environmental and safety regulations. In addition, the NSBDC provides useful information and analyses of the economy, environment and demographic data to help businesses, government and other organizations promote economic growth in their communities.
  • University of Nevada Cooperative Extension develops educational and research programs to enhance ranch and farm profitability, as well as promote good stewardship, sustainability of water resources and rangelands, containment of noxious weeds and resolution of public and private land disputes.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business start-up.

 

New Hampshire

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New Jersey

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New Mexico

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  • Food Labeling, Food Development Laboratory, New Mexico State College of Agriculture.
  • Laws and Regulations, Marketing and Development, Department of Agriculture.
  • Marketing & Development Division - Consists of Market News, foreign and domestic market improvement and development, agricultural statistics, and produce marketing inspection service. Contains Department of Agriculture laws and regulations.
  • New Mexico Tourism
  • The Small Business Resource - Designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies, and plan a business startup.

 

New York
 

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  • Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC), New York - The primary function of the AIC is to help ag producers add value to what they produce (i.e., via product branding; product quality enhancement; on-farm, first-stage product transformation; finding higher-value uses for manure and crop byproducts).
  • Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) - Provides resources and expertise in community development and local governance, and outreach to community leaders, educators, elected officials and citizens interested in the vitality of their communities.
  • Cooperative Enterprise Program at Cornell University - Their mission is to enhance the performance of existing cooperative businesses and facilitate the development of emerging cooperative enterprise through teaching, research and outreach.
  • Community Food and Agriculture Program (CFAP) - Their mission is to support Food and Agriculture-based Community Development in New York and the Northeast through integrated and multi-disciplinary teaching, research and extension programs.
  • Food Establishment Licenses, New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets.
  • Fruit & Vegetable Processing - Pilot Scale Operations & Laboratory Support, Cornell University.
  • New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) - Business assistance resources from financing programs to real estate opportunities and more.
  • New York State Agencies Rules & Regulations
  • New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program - Works with farmers, supermarkets and food processors to document the practice of IPM as a value-added characteristic of agricultural products. Crop-specific IPM Elements are the recognized method for documenting and communicating the practice of IPM by farmers to consumers. Products can be labeled with an IPM logo after the certification/verification process is satisfied. Contact the NYS IPM Program at 1-800-635-8356 or visit the IPM Program Web site for information on IPM Elements and IPM labeling.
  • New York Tourism
  • Pursuit Lending (formerly New York Business Development Corporation) - Their mission is to promote economic activity within New York state by providing innovative loans to small and medium-size businesses.
  • Small Business Start-up Information - The one-stop shop for small businesses who want to start or expand in New York State.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision maker- -businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.

 

North Carolina

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  • Carolina Farm Stewardship Association - Supports and expands local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating and organizing farmers and consumers.
  • Developing a Food Business, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension
  • Food Program, Food & Drug Protection Division, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services 
  • North Carolina Agritourism Farms
  • North Carolina Agribusiness Council
  • North Carolina Commerce Finance Center- The Commerce Finance Center (CFC) provides a “one-step” financial center to which relocating companies and existing employers come for the articulation of the financing alternatives available in North Carolina. It is CFC’s responsibility to encourage and precipitate decisions to save and create new jobs, and to entice prospective employers to offer better paying jobs to North Carolina citizens. Incentives and programs administered by the CFC include tax credits, grants, loan funding and bond financing.
  • North Carolina Department of Commerce Business and Industry - The Business and Industry Division (B&I) leads North Carolina's business and industrial recruitment efforts. The Division's industrial developers work closely with other public and private development organizations to attract new industries to the state.
  • North Carolina's Regional Partnerships for Economic Development - The counties of North Carolina have been organized into seven joint public/private partnerships for economic development. North Carolina's regional partnerships enable regions to independently market for new investment and to devise effective economic development strategies based on regional opportunities and advantages.
  • Publications for Developing a Food Business, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
  • The Golden LEAF (Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation) was created in 1999 as a nonprofit corporation by Court Order in the consent decree resolving litigation initiated by the North Carolina Department of Justice. It receives one half of the funds coming to North Carolina resulting from the Master Settlement Agreement and makes grants to nonprofit and government agencies to improve the economic and social conditions of North Carolina's people. The objectives are to promote the social welfare of North Carolina's citizens and to receive and distribute funds for economic impact assistance. E-mail: info@goldenleaf.org
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.
  • The Tobacco Trust Fund was established to assist tobacco farmers, tobacco quota holders, persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses, individuals displaced from tobacco-related employment and tobacco product component businesses in North Carolina by the funding of programs that support, foster, encourage and facilitate a strong agricultural economy in North Carolina or otherwise address needs in the tobacco-related segment of the state's economy.

 

North Dakota

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  • Division of Food and Lodging, North Dakota Department of Health.
  • Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture (ECH) at Dakota College at Bottineau, helps small to mid-size farmers and gardeners produce organic and specialty vegetables for sale. Some of our clients sell their vegetables direct to customers through farmers' markets, grocery stores and restaurants while others grow vegetables on a larger scale and sell to wholesalers or on commodity markets.
    • Food Entrepreneur, Your Resource Guide to the Food Industry.
    • North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) helps create and implement projects generating new wealth and jobs throughout North Dakota, through consultation technical assistance financing programs and education. NDAREC provides assistance to new and emerging cooperatives through technical advice and guidance, business analysis and facilitated learning. Assistance is also provided to local leaders and producers in raising seed money and selecting a steering committee to lead the project and to investigate the feasibility of the project, determine an appropriate legal structure and develop a business plan. They also assist in business plans and plan/conduct equity fund drives.

Special Funding Sources:

  • Ag Products Utilization creates new wealth and jobs through the development of new and expanded uses of North Dakota agricultural products. Grant monies are available.
  • Agricultural Research Fund is a special fund in the state treasury derived from checkoffs indicated on the oil tax refund of $0.04 per gallon of gasoline. The monies in the fund must be expended for agricultural research projects that have a positive economic impact for producers of crops and livestock in North Dakota.
  • Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives - Provides assistance for cooperative agricultural efforts in North Dakota, Dr. Gregory McKee, Director, Gregory.McKee@ndsu.nodak.edu

 

Ohio

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  • Food Processing Food Safety,  Ohio Department of Agriculture.
  • Food Science & Technology facilities (including pilot plants), Ohio State University.
  • Governor's Office of Appalachia (GOA) facilitates economic and social development in the 29 Appalachian counties of Ohio. GOA advises local groups and residents of possible funding sources and methods for addressing problems and acts as a liaison to connect people and resources.
  • Ohio Cooperative Development Center (OCDC) provides assistance for firms that are interested in organizing a cooperative. The Center also has grant funds. Two types of grants will be made available to recipients. One type focuses on feasibility and pre-feasibility study grants. Applicants should apply for pre-feasibility study grants if they are new groups who are interested in forming a cooperative but need to uncover some preliminary information to determine if a full feasibility study is worthwhile. The second type of grant focuses on hiring of services (that is, legal or financial) or the development of marketing materials. This money is to be used to provide expertise to your cooperative or to assist in developing marketing materials to highlight the cooperative business.
  • Ohio Department of Development promotes economic opportunities to improve the profits and prosperity of Ohio's citizens. The Department provides financial, informational and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio's future.
  • Ohio Proud is for food or agricultural producers who have a product that is at least 50 percent grown, raised or processed in Ohio. Benefits of membership include cooperative marketing programs, special promotions, a presence at industry trade shows, networking opportunities, educational and training seminars, and advertising, including radio, newspaper, industry publications and direct mail pieces.
  • Ohio State Food Science, Ohio State University.
  • Ohio State University Farm Income Enhancement (FIE) Program develops concepts to enhance income and promote long-term stability in Ohio agriculture.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers- - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.

 

Oklahoma

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  • Market Development, Oklahoma Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
  • Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center, Oklahoma State University - The mission of the this Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center is to stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural processing in Oklahoma. They provide technical assistance for analytical chemistry, cereal chemistry, meat processing, food engineering, horticultural processing, microbiology, oil and oilseed chemistry, pilot plants, quality assurance and food safety, sensory evaluation, value-added wood products, ag business economics, and business planning and marketing.
  • Oklahoma Department of Commerce - The Oklahoma Department of Commerce provides resources, information, and services to all sizes and types of businesses in Oklahoma to assist in expanding, finding new markets nationally and overseas, and resolving technical and regulatory issues.
  • Oklahoma Economic Development Directory - Directory of the websites of economic development agencies in Oklahoma. Regularly updated links to economic development information for business people, real estate departments, brokers, and consultants.

 

Oregon

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  • Food Innovation Center (FIC) is a collaborative program between Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The FIC offers one-stop access to services for food producers, processors, distributors, and entrepreneurs who are interested in developing and differentiating farm and food products. The Oregon State University staff of technologists, engineers, economists, and business professionals provides technical, science-based services in conjunction with the business-savvy expertise of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s marketing and business development professionals.
  • Laws and Regulations, Oregon Department of Agriculture. (Filter by type on right hand side of website)
  • Northwest Food Processors Association
  • Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
  • Oregon Licenses and Permits
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.

 

Pennsylvania

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  • Bureau of Market Development, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is composed of four divisions including the Domestic and International Business Development, Risk Management and Commodity Promotion, Livestock Marketing and Grading, and Pennsylvania Agritourism and Fairs. The Bureau cooperates with the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council. The Bureau of Market Development is responsible for the domestic and worldwide promotion and marketing of Pennsylvania agribusiness products and services.
  • Business Assistance, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
  • Food Entrepreneur Resources, Penn State University.
  • The Keystone Development Center is a technical assistance provider that can help with all phases of setting up a cooperative. Services include feasibility analysis, business planning, developing marketing plans, helping with member recruitment, assistance with applications for financing, board and employee training on how a cooperative works, and legal services in starting a new cooperative.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies, and plan a business startup.

 

Puerto Rico

 

Rhode Island

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South Carolina

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  • Starting a Food Business: An Overview, Clemson Extension.
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals.  These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies, and plan a business start-up.

 

South Dakota

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  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.
  • The Value Added Agriculture Development Center delivers technical assistance specifically to emerging and expanding agribusinesses. The center is the main entity in the state to provide agribusinesses with hands-on help with feasibility, business planning, funding and other development tasks.

 

Tennessee

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Texas

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U.S. Virgin Islands

 

Utah

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Vermont

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Virginia

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Washington

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West Virginia

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  • Regulatory & Environmental Affairs, West Virginia Department of Agriculture
  • The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies, and plan a business start-up.

 

Wisconsin 

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Wyoming

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Links updated March 2022