$750,000 Federal Grant will facilitate Fayette County food incubation hub

FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair, Gayle Manchin and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development West Virginia State Director, Ryan Thorn joined New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and WV Hive leaders on Wednesday for the announcement of a federal grant to go toward a food incubation hub in Fayette County.

The event served to showcase the benefits of small business development throughout West Virginia. This included the moderation of a small business roundtable discussion by Thorn and NRGRDA Deputy Director and WV Hive Executive Director, Judy Moore with regional stakeholders at the Soldiers and Sailors Memborial Building.

Also in attendance for the announcement of the grant were visiting Chilean rural business and community development leaders. These leaders would later join Moore and Thorn for visits to Fayetteville’s Water Stone Outdoors and Oak Hill’s Pinheads. There, business owners offered tours along with in-depth information on their businesses.

The location of the food incubation hub has not yet been determined, but it has been confirmed that the resource will be in the Fayette County area.

“In southern West Virginia, there is a lack of concentrated business development support for food businesses, including access to commercial kitchen space,” Moore said. “There are very few commercial kitchens in West Virginia, and none known within the 13-county services area of the WV Hive. The WV Hive’s Food Incubation Hub will include a commercial kitchen with space for 10 to 12 businesses, small wares, and catering supplies. In addition to the kitchen, the food hub will include full WV Hive business support services, with one-on-one business advising and technical assistance support, including access to specialized food management training from the WV Hive and the Food Finance Institute.”

Manchin noted the economic benefits of support for local agriculture, stating, “supporting the growth of food and agriculture-based businesses not only spurs economic diversification across Appalachia, but also provides affordable and nutritious food for our people. ARC is proud to be a piece of the puzzle in helping the Fayette County food hub come to fruition. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with USDA’s Rural Partners Network and the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority to further uplift the future economic growth of southern West Virginia.”

The WV Hive Food Incubation Hub is a signature project of the Rural Partners Network Southern West Virginia Community Network, which includes government and non-profit leaders from 12 southern West Virginia counties.