CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE AIC VALUE-ADDED CROP ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

To be eligible for AIC assistance, you need to.....

1. Complete the "Business Planning Lite" questionnaire. This consists of five worksheets -- about 30 pages in length. Those who complete the pre-planning workbook will be eligible to be selected for individual assistance with FarmLink;

2. Have filed a Farm Income Tax Form for the prior tax year indicating agriculture as a primary business activity on the part of the potential client;

3. Provide evidence of at least $50,000 in agriculture or horticulture-related sales (or evidence of equivalent on-farm activity directly related to production of agricultural products for sale, such as hay and grain produced and fed to on-farm cattle for meat sales);

4. Have been involved in the base agricultural business for a minimum of five years;

5. Demonstrate a desire and ability to launch specific business activities by January 2007; and

6. Have been referred to AIC via a recognized agriculture support agency or individual. Examples would include Cornell Cooperative Extension, attorneys, Farm Bureau, NYS Ag and Markets.

Initial projects will attempt to cover the broad range of agriculture and horticulture activities in New York. Similar or competing projects will be served on a first-come/first-served basis.

Projects that have been attempted within the past five years and resulted in bankruptcy will not be given first priority unless the bankruptcy was caused by actions beyond the principal's control.

For further information, contact Cheryl Leach at 315-787-2622, or via email at cal35@cornell.edu

For more information, please read our proposal. (Download PDF)

Related Resources

- Food Venture Center

- Northeast Center for Food Entrepreneurship