Alcona Farm to Fork Campaign Receives Matching MEDC Grant
It started as a grassroots movement but now Farm to Fork Alcona is cruising, receiving a matching grant for $7,500 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The Alcona community raised more than $7,500 through offline and online donations. For online donations, they utilized Patronicity to gather the funds. They also made it possible to donate at Alpena Alcona Credit Union. This matching grant will help provide more educational opportunities for locals who want to learn more about the farm to fork movement and how they can benefit. It will also help create events for farms, vendors, business entrepreneurs, and youth to gather together. The goal is to make an economic impact and get more people coming to Alcona county.
Dietitian and farm to fork representative, Judy MacNeill talks about the importance and input from the community to embrace the movement and continue to search for economic success in the fertile region. Alcona has seen tough times with farmers growing older, and small businesses closing up shop. With the farm to fork movement, MacNeill hopes that it will reverse the economic downturn and get Alcona County on the map as a beacon for locally sourcing produce.
More information can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/FarmToForkAlcona/
To donate or find out more information visit:
https://www.patronicity.com/project/farm_to_fork_alcona#!/
