Local Farmers & Producers: Apply for the 2023 VFC Microloan!
The Viroqua Food Co+op Board of Directors welcomes local farms and small food producers to apply for our 2023 VFC Microloan. Applications are due January 27th.
This one-year no-interest loan of up to $3500 is earmarked for specific projects that improve or strengthen existing local farms or small food businesses in our local food shed. Interest-free loans are the opposite of the normal cycle many farmers and food producers find themselves in. More familiar is the cycle of high interest loans, debt, and the inability to reach financial security and true economic viability through their business.
Founded in 2012, the VFC Microlending Initiative continues to aim towards building resilience in our operations and ensures that VFC Owners and shoppers have continued access to local food and products. The boards intention is to share the resources of our cooperative to better enable local farmers and food producers to provide us with the food and resources needed to live a healthy life.
Types of projects funded by the VFC Microlending Initiative are the ones that:
• Help fill a hole in our local food system by expanding the production and/or distribution of products
• Purchase equipment to increase efficiency and decrease production costs
• Help a local producer grow their business
Last year, Driftless Brewing Company used a VFC Microloan to update marketing and packaging to allow them to have more flavors available for wholesale and to increase their distribution.
If you are a local farmer or producer interested in the 2023 VFC Microloan, find out more or apply on our webpage at https://www.viroquafood.coop/microloan or reach out to Jen McCoy at outreach@viroquafood.coop