Regional Institute Commences Survey of Farms in Southtowns

Taking the first step of a major agribusiness development effort in the Southtowns, the Regional Institute is conducting a survey of farms in the towns of Eden, Evans, Brant and North Collins to hear from farm operators about the visitor services they offer, their interests in expanding or developing new agribusinesses, and the resources they need to get started. The effort, "Sowing the Seeds for Southtowns Agribusiness," is sponsored by the Southtowns Community Enhancement Coalition, a volunteer community development consortium representing the four towns and the villages of Angola, Farnham and North Collins, with funding from a national grant.

An outgrowth of a recently released tourism strategy for the Southtowns, the effort is based on the growing popularity of farm-based tourism nationwide and the diversity of agricultural assets in the Southtowns. The next phase of the effort will link farms to the tools they need to expand or start an agribusiness, including marketing and business planning assistance and funding resources. Surveys will be conducted through the end of the year, with findings and next steps presented at a community forum in winter 2009. Farms in the four-town area are encouraged to contact the institute to participate in the survey or learn more about the effort. View the "Flyer on the Survey of Farms" for more details.