FCCDC July News: Summer on the Farm 🍈 🌽

Eat, Shop, and INVEST Local

FCCDC and PVGIF friends Andrew Bellak and Susan Maki

Harrison Bardwell talks about the benefits of high tunnel growing

Founding investor Tom Willits of the Lydia B. Stokes Foundation

As June closed out, our PVGrows Investment Fund event at Bardwell Farm drew roughly 45 people interested in learning more about community investment in the food system (see the photo album). Bardwell Farm's Harrison Bardwell, a 9th generation farmer, spoke about how even though he had land and a viable farm business, as a new farmer, he couldn’t secure a bank loan, and how financing from PVGrows Investment Fund (PVGIF) allowed him to buy a high tunnel to increase production. He sells over 100 varieties of vegetables through a CSA and to restaurants, grocery stores, and area farm stands, including his own, at 49 Main Street in Hatfield.

The fund also made a loan to Flor Farm Foodies in Holyoke, a small farm on land leased from Nuestras Raices. At the event, farm owner Maria Oliveras Gonzalez spoke about how the loan, which was accompanied by business technical assistance, had a profound impact on her.

(Read more about Maria at our Client Focus.)

Founding PVGIF investor Tom Willits of the Lydia B. Stokes Foundation spoke about the shift in thinking that gave rise to a local-food focused investment vehicle. “That was the whole point [of the Fund],” he said. "It wasn't necessarily about making money, but providing capital to folks working toward a stronger food system."

The PVGIF aggregates community investments and lends them to farm and food businesses. For as little as $500, community members contribute to the sustainability and growth of our local agricultural sector. Community investors receive up to 2% interest financial return on their three-year-term investment—and 100% return on their values.

To date, PVGIF’s community investors have provided 96 loans to farm and local food businesses for projects of varying scopes and sizes, including historical barn renovations, delivery truck purchases, vegetable washing stations, tractors, and hoop houses. Clients include Mycoterra Farm in Deerfield, All Farmers in West Springfield, and Sutter Meats in Northampton. PVGIF has raised $2.4 million through community investors and foundations to date. Its new goal is $5 million. The PVGIF Offering Memorandum, which explains in detail how the fund works and what the risks are, is available on the PVGrows website.

Entrepreneurs Lob Their Pitches

From left, Johnny Bossuot, Max Fripp, Anna Morin, Dylan Sheldon, Nikita Unhurian, Jerome Williams, Matt Allen, Jaylin Charles, Donna Flagg, Sean Toomey, John Waite

Donna Flagg of Sage Salt Studios

Jaylin Charles, left, with brand ambassadors

Matt Allen of Valley Youth Sports

It was inspiring to hear from entrepreneurs who shared their vision for new and growing businesses at the final Take the Floor business pitch contest in late June (see the photo album). Take the Floor is part of our UPstart Program, which also includes our Entrepreneurial Accelerator course. Five graduates of that program pitched at Take the Floor.

During the event, eight contestants faced a packed house at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center and presented their ideas. There were winners in each of three categories (with asterisks, below), and a tie in the Small Business category.

Participants were:

Food and Beverage

Dylan Sheldon and Anna Morin, The Sweeter Thingz

Johnny Bossuot, Healthy Cooking Connections

*Shane Toomey, Kneaded Goods

Creative

*Jaylin Charles, Ethereal World

Jerome Williams, Gifted Peace

Small Business

Donna Flagg, Sage Salt Studios

*Nikita Unhurian, UNG Detailing

*Matt Allen, Valley Youth Sports

Winners shared $10,000 in prize money from lead sponsor Franklin First Federal Credit Union. Greenfield Savings Bank sponsored the VIP reception before the event for pitch participants and their families. Thanks to these supporters and our partners, Greenspace CoWork, LaunchSpace, and the Franklin County Chamber.

More Block Party Photos

We can't resist sharing more photos of the June 6 Block Party. Click the button below to see all the fun!

Photo album

Biz-M-Power Crowdfunding Update

The FCCDC recently worked with three local businesses to help them qualify for matching grants of up to $20,000 through Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation's Biz-M-Power program. They can fundraise for up to $20,000 and whatever they raise up to that amount, MGCC will match.

If you can spare it, go to the links and donate to help them succeed!

Locally owned and operated primary care business Bridge Primary has raised $14,000 of its $20,000 goal. They hope to use the funds to move into newly renovated office space in downtown Greenfield.
The family-run operation Crafty Chics freeze-dries everything from candy to fruit to donuts (!). Their brand new campaign is seeking $19,524 to buy new freeze drying equipment. Check out the cute video on their fundraising page.
Stoneman Brewery wants to upgrade and expand its tiny footprint in its quest to use local ingredients in its Good Food Award-winning beer. It has raised nearly $9,000 of its $19,998 goal.
And cheers to creative reuse store and fabric center Swanson's Fabrics (pictured), which surpassed its original goal of $10,000 and is now at nearly $12,000 of a new stretch goal of $20,000 as they build their capacity to hold classes and events.

Client Focus: Flor Farm Foodies

Farmer and serial entrepreneur Maria Oliveras Gonzalez is busy. A single mom of four kids, she runs a mixed-vegetable farm, Flor Farm Foodies, in Holyoke on land leased from Nuestras Raices. She also makes and sells hot sauces and jams, is opening a food truck, has a cleaning company, and helps women in crisis by introducing them to agriculture.

During a recent gathering of the PVGrows investors, borrowers, and community members, Maria spoke about the Women’s Agricultural Enrichment Program. She shared that she is a domestic violence survivor. “I wanted to add that to my story because I would not be here if not for that chapter in my life.” The 9-month program helps women by “introducing them to the world of entrepreneurship through agriculture,” according to her website.

Maria received grants and a loan from the Franklin County CDC using funds from Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and through the PVGrows Investment Fund to purchase farm tools and renovations of the food truck.

Now Maria grows peppers, tomatoes, corn, beans, squash, and mushrooms on her half acre. She makes and sells value-added products, transforming the hot peppers she grows into signature hot sauces in tempting flavors, such as Cayenne Bayou, Gia Green Thai Chili, and Jah’ Makin’ Me Hot Sauce. She also jars unique seasonal preserves—think spicy strawberry and pineapple—along with traditional favorites such as blueberry and raspberry.

On July 20, she’ll debut her new food truck, selling delicacies from Puerto Rico: appetizers like beef empanadas, Alcapurria (green banana and beef fritters), Bacalaitos (cod fritters), and the entrée: yellow rice with pigeon peas and a portion of pork or quarter chicken with green bananas and sweet bread with barbecue sauce. To top it off, she serves flan, frozen fruit limbers, and cheesecake.

In her spare time, Maria runs DumpGirls LLC, a residential cleaning company that she hopes to grow to serve commercial clients.

“Franklin County CDC, thank you for being my yes person and believing in me,” she said.

Read the full story

Client in the News: Freedom Street Brewing

Maybe you sampled Freedom Street Brewing's Honey Blond Ale or Lemon Lime Hard Seltzer at our Block Party. Errin Woessner's 400-square-foot brew space in Erving got some press in the Greenfield Recorder, which noted Errin's focus on quality over quantity.

From the article:

Woessner’s craft started small, with Woessner brewing beer in his parents’ basement as a hobby. He became serious about brewing in 2016, at which time he started to can beer and fill kegs while working as a chef. In 2021, Woessner began working with the Greenfield-based Franklin County Community Development Corporation to formally start Freedom Street Brewery, which he named after the street he grew up on.

Woessner said working with the Franklin County CDC "really jumped things ahead."

Photo of Errin Woessner by Paul Franz of The Recorder

Read the story

Client in the News: Firehouse Cafe and Bistro

It's getting hot in the Berkshires and Firehouse Cafe and Bistro is making it even hotter. The new restaurant got some great press in Berkshires Week's "7 Best Restaurants" feature!

Owners Xavier Jones and Warren Dews have accomplished creating "a fun and informal place with a vibe that invites taking a group," according to the review. "There are great burgers and enough starters that if you order a few, everyone can pick at them and make it a meal—things like wings, smoked ribs, 'Man Candy'—deep fried pork belly in bourbon and spices, falafel and papas bravas, for instance."

Xavier Jones and Warren Dews by Gillian Jones of the Berkshire Eagle

Read the story

How Are We Doing?

"How am I doing?" It was a question famously asked repeatedly by longtime New York City Mayor Ed Koch. Well, we also want to know how we're doing, and we want people who Google us to know. So, if you have an opinion about the Franklin County CDC, you could shout it from the top of the Chrysler Building or you could express it in a Google review (at the button below).

Review us

Partner Offerings and Updates

Job Openings

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)

CISA is seeking an Office Administrator: a self-motivated problem-solver, someone who enjoys helping set up and manage an array of systems, with a willingness to focus on the details. The Office Administrator provides critical support to the entire CISA team and is often the first interaction the public has with CISA. Read more here.

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV)

BAV seeks a creative, dependable, and well-organized person to be their Development and Communications Associate. This full-time position will support the growth and efficiency of the organization by framing and promoting the impact of their work; driving connectivity among BAV, their stakeholders and their community at large; and supporting their donor activity and relationships. Read more here.

Community Investment:

There's a Tax Credit for That!

The Franklin County CDC is grateful to be one of one of 54 organizations statewide that was recertified as a Community Development Corporation to offer Community Investment Tax Credits (CITCs) through the year 2028. The program, administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), provides tax credits of 50% to those who donate $1,000 or more to certified entities like us.

"CITC is designed to enable local residents and stakeholders to work with and through community development corporations (CDCs) to partner with nonprofit, public, and private entities to improve economic opportunities for low and moderate income households and other residents in urban, rural, and suburban communities across the Commonwealth," according to the EOHLC website.

Want to be a CITC donor and see your dollars doubled? You can set up a monthly, quarterly, yearly, or one-time donation securely on our website. We also accept Venmo now. If you give $1,000 or more over the course of a calendar year, you get half back in the form of a tax credit when you file your taxes. Your $1,000 donation costs you only $500, so you are doubling your impact!

Thank you to everyone who supports the Franklin County CDC financially and in countless other ways!

Click here to make your donationtoday!

Free Information Sessions at the FCCDC

Would you or someone you know benefit from an online session with a business expert? We hold four free hour-long groups every month. Check out the offerings below and sign up. You can explain where you're at with your business (from idea to growing to winding down) and we'll put you on the right path.