Congressman Tom Reed announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission has approved a $67,728 grant to Tompkins County Area Development, Inc. (TCAD) for a pilot Food Processing Business Incubation Program (FoodBIP).

"This grant will help manufacturers build necessary connections that will give them a fair chance in the food industry and allow them to grow. I care about bringing more jobs to our region and with this program, I believe that goal can be achieved," Reed said.

The grant will support growth of food and beverage manufacturers in Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties. The FoodBIP will hire a specialist who will help develop the program that will build relations with the entrepreneurial community, share knowledge, encourage supply chain connections, and pump growth into the region's food and beverage manufacturers.

"We are grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for the award to pilot the Food Processing Business Incubation Program, known as FoodBIP," says Janet Hawkes, Co-Chair of the Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network, which will implement the new program. "These funds will allow FoodBIP to stimulate the growth of the Finger Lakes region's nascent local-foods industry. We are excited to work with farm-based producers as well as small manufacturers. These food and beverage entrepreneurs are eager for additional support to help them connect to their markets and grow jobs."

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