The Center is not a physical place or building but rather a partnership of organizations, all dedicated to developing a better, fairer, more sustainable and resilient food system in Appalachia. We’re doing that by offering coordination, technical assistance and business builder subawards.

Our Center Partners are 18 organizations throughout the Appalachia region that seek to better the food system through our work. Learn more about our Partners here.

The Appalachia Regional Food Business Center services all of Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Check out our map on the homepage of the site for specific counties we serve.

Yes! While the Center does have geographic boundaries, our help and support does not. If you wish to grow, sell, or buy from or in the area we cover, please feel free to contact us at info@appalachiarfbc.org.

Any for or non-profit food or farm businesses that is making food for human consumption and participating in post-harvest activities. This includes:

• Start up businesses

• Farmers or ranchers

• Meat processors

• Food producers and value added product producers

• Aggregators and Distributors

• Shared-used kitchens

• Herb-growers or processors

• Food businesses training operations

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Please contact your nearest Center Technical Assistance Provider for guidance.

Generally, items and activities that support post-harvest business development and capacity building are eligible. Some examples of this include:

• Walk in coolers and freezers

• Commercial kitchen equipment

• Post-harvest processing or food safety equipment

• Marketing, product development, or branding costs

• Business planning or strategy planning

• Packaging and labeling expenses

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Please contact your nearest Center Technical Assistance Provider for guidance.

Generally, items and activities that fall into pre-harvest activities, construction, or land purchase are ineligible. Some examples of this include:

• Pre-harvest farming equipment such as fencing, irrigation equipment, seeds, or soil amendments

• Purchasing or leasing land, buildings, or real estate.

• the construction, renovation, demolition, or rehabilitation of any building, structure, or land.

• Non-specialized equipment such as tractors, trucks, or trailers.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Please contact your nearest Center Technical Assistance Provider for guidance.

This Subaward allows the purchase or lease of specialized vehicles that are not easily converted or used for personal use. However, the lease term cannot be longer than the funding period of the individual subaward; a maximum of 24 months from the commencement of the funding or December 31, 2027, whichever comes first.  

 Examples of specialized vehicles include:

• Specialized trailers (such as a food service trailer)

• Forklifts

• Refrigerated vans

• Delivery vehicles

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Please contact your nearest Center Technical Assistance Provider for guidance.

Staffing costs are an allowable expense that can be covered by a subaward. However, in order to be successfully reimbursed, the staffing costs would need to be shown clearly as a payroll cost. Please note that, while this is an allowable expense to be included on a subaward proposal, there could be tax implications for an owner to also be listed as an employee. This should be discussed with a tax adviser due to the implications of such an arrangement. Additionally, the only cost that can be covered are payroll costs for time directly related to activities covered by the subaward. Employee activity that is not related to a covered activity (general business activities not related to the subaward) cannot be covered.