A very early conception of nonprofit/for-profit venture to create transitional employment opportunities while bridging gaps between businesses seeking skilled workers and people seeking family-supporting careers.

1. Grow Food.
Cultivate Communities.
A 360° approach to urban farming
via human capital development.

2. Vision.
Create a commercially viable nonprofit
enterprise based on healthy, environmentally
sustainable fundamentals that improves the
quality of life for people in underserved
communities.

3. Informed markets
demand information.

4. Making healthy choices
isn’t always easy.

5. Especially among urban populations.

6. 1800 chefs surveyed
think this stuff is pretty
important. Why?
Because it matters to
their diners. Source: American Culinary
Federation

7. And more consumers buy locally
grown food because it is better for
our economy, our environment and
our health.
Enough of them to even call it a
movement.

8. Current Community Conditions
• Poor health
• Food deserts
• Weak local economy
• Mass exodus
• Blight
• High unemployment
• Crime
• Large ex-offender
populations
• Local need/regional
demand for healthy,
sustainable food supply
• City support
• Land & buildings
• Established ecosystem
• Relationships
• Underutilized workforce
• Increased tax credits
Deficits Assets

9. Massive Southside Revitalization
Green Healthy Neighborhoods initiative plans to redevelop
13 square miles—that’s 11,000 city lots or 800 acres—much of
it dedicated to urban agriculture.

10. Provisional Model
Urban Agriculture
.
.
Fundraising Transitional Employment
Education
Job Training
Placement
Healthier
Communities

11. UrbanUrban
AgriculturAgricultur
ee
Transitional
Employment
Education
Job Training
Placement
Fundraising
Produce
Fish
Poultry
Beekeeping/Honey
Distribution
• 33% Local Community
• Farmer’s Markets
• Restaurants
• Local Grocers
Agricultural Training
Code of Conduct
Life Skill Training
World of Work Training
Seasonal vs. Year-round
Career Assessment
Career Counseling
Corrective Guidance
Financial Aid Support
Identify Resources
Case Management
and Tracking
Supportive Services
Community Education
Outreach
Placement Assistance
• Agency Relationships
• Tax Credit Admin
Immediate & Ongoing!
Possible Funding Sources
• Product Sales
• Public Corrections Grants
• Public Job Training Grants
• Private Foundations
• Corporate Partners
• Marketing & Public Relations
• Crowdfunding & Donations
Lifecycle duration 8 to 24 months(?)
Enterprise Model Lifecycle

12. SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
• Nonprofit Experience
• Government Relationships
• Community Development
Experience
• Employment Tax Credit
Prowess & Resources
• Staffing Industry
Relationships
• Measureable Outcomes
• Nonprofit Relationships
• Marketing Experience
• Foundation Relationships
• Workforce Development
Experience
• Restaurant Industry
Relationships
• Financial Stewardship
• Agricultural Experience
• Limited Funds to Start
• Unfamiliar with Local Community
• No Current Infrastructure
• Economic Engine Uncertainty
• No Budget = No Fundraising Targets
• Board Members Not Yet Identified
• Lots of Moving Parts
• Strong Market Demand
• Universally Appealing
Mission
• City Support
• Established Ecosystem
• Land & Buildings
Available Due to Blight &
Flight
• Underutilized Workforce
• Increased Tax Credits
• Faith-based Relationships
• Corporate Partnership
Opportunities
• Powerful Social Media &
PR Resources for Fundraising
• Accelerated Release of
Overcrowded Prison
Populations
• Violence & Crime
• Government Red-tape
• Competition for Contiguous Land Parcels
• Poorly Educated Community & Workforce
• Unreliable Workforce Dynamics
• Carpetbagger Perception
• Limited Leadership Bandwidth
• Seasonal vs. Year-round Enterprise

13. Foundational Choices
• Independent vs. Cooperative
approach?
• Which partnership combination can
be most impactful?
• Workforce Development: Ex-offenders
vs. Veterans vs. Community at-large?
• Scope and phasing of workforce
development services?
• Seasonal vs. 365 operation?
• Location to originate launch?

14. Immediate Needs
• Inventory Relevant
Relationships
• Name, Mission
Statement & Bylaws
Revision
• Government
Roadmap
• Operational
Roadmap
• Provisional Budget
• Initial Funding!
• A Strategic Board of
Directors
• Logo, Website &
Presentation
Materials
• Coordinated Digital
Fundraising Plan
• Provisional Org
Chart
• Key Core
Employees

15. Planting seeds can change lives.
When they came to the crowd, a man
approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord,
have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has
seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into
the fire or into the water. I brought him to your
disciples, but they could not heal him.”
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus
replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long
shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to
me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out
of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and
asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I
tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard
seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from
here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you.” (Mathew 17:14-20)