2011 Ann Copeland Emerging Producer Award

Description

The Community Agriculture Alliance initiated the development of the Northwest Colorado Products program in 2005. The mission of the Northwest Colorado Products program is to promote and establish and maintain a market for products and services that originate in Northwest Colorado.

The purpose of the NWCP program is to:

v  Create a market for products and services that originate in Northwest Colorado.

v  Develop retail opportunities that can be easily accessed by locals and tourists.

v  Tell the stories of Northwest Colorado and its residents.

To encourage local product development, the Northwest Colorado Products Board of Directors has established an annual award to recognize emerging producers in the Northwest Colorado region. This award is named after Ann Copeland, a NWCP Board Member who passed away in July 2009. Ann embodied the entrepreneurial spirit and led the way for many producers in the Yampa Valley to market and sell their products through the Hayden Marketplace, which Ann helped to establish in 2008. Ann was a fourth-generation Yampa Valley resident. The list her accomplishments is long. As mentioned, she helped lead the effort to start the Hayden Marketplace, where she sold homemade jewelry under the name Annie’s Antics. She served on the Hayden Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and worked to promote cultural heritage tourism in the area. She and her husband leased and led llama pack trips in the Flat Tops from their ranch on Routt County Road 19, about 28 miles from Hayden.

The intent of the Ann Copeland Emerging Producer Award is to recognize an individual who exhibits innovation, good business practices, and the entrepreneurial spirit in his/her approach to designing, developing, marketing, and distributing a product that originates in the region of Northwest Colorado. The award will be presented at the NWCP Annual Meeting and What’s in Our Foodshed III – Saturday, October 22, 2011 The winning producer will be awarded opportunities that will assist in realizing their marketing and promotional plan goals for their product.

Nominations for the award are being solicited from regional educational institutions and other agencies involved with product development as well as the general public. The Board of Directors of Northwest Colorado Products will partner with local business leaders to determine the award winner.  The Board of Directors of Northwest Colorado Products is honored to offer this award in Ann’s name. For more information, contact Nancy B. Kramer at (970) 879-4370 or nbkramer@communityagalliance.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2011

 

Criteria

§  Currently active in the design, development and marketing of a local product within the region of Northwest Colorado (Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Jackson counties).

§  Exhibits innovation in product development, marketing and business practices.

§  Established business plan to sustain production and company

§  Dedicated to Community Service - individually and/or through company

§  Exhibits Anne Copeland’s high level of enthusiasm for Local product development, community engagement and embodies the Entrepreneurial Spirit

 

The Award

§  Plaque recognizing the award

§  One year FREE Northwest Colorado Products Producer membership

§  Featured profile on www.nwcproducts.org

§  Marketing and Business Development Support Package 

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE

DOWNLOAD THE AWARD INFORMATION HERE

Community Agricultural Alliance Receives Grant from USDA Rural Development

Steamboat Springs, CO, – USDA Rural Development Colorado State Director Jim Isgar was in Steamboat Springs today to present representatives from Community Agricultural Alliance with a ceremonial check for a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG).

“The RBEG program assists with business development and may fund a broad array of activities,” said Isgar. Grants awarded are for rural projects to finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging rural businesses, to help fund business incubators, and help fund employment related adult education programs. Community Agricultural Alliance will use the funding to provide a feasibility study and business/marketing plan for a potential vertical greenhouse facility to produce locally grown and consumed fruit and produce. I am pleased the Community Agriculture Alliance (CAA) has taken this significant leadership role. This grant will provide the opportunity for the CAA to lay the foundation to meet the increasing regional demand for more locally produced agriculture products.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improving the quality of life of rural residents. Further information on rural programs is available at any of Colorado’s six local USDA Rural Development offices or by visiting the web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/co
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA Rural Grant check presentation on August 24, 2011.
(left to right) Jim Isgar, CO Director USDA Rural Development; Senator Jean White; Marilyn Hill, Planet Yampa; Nancy Kramer, Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Tourism; Medora Fralick, Community Agriculture Alliance Board; Jay Fetcher, representative for Senator Udall; Todd Hagenbuch, representative for Senator Bennet