NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 38

Food and Farming network

Networks Northwest Offering a
Menu of Support Services
Regional plans support
food, farming viability
By Susan Cocciarelli
Networks Northwest
Networks Northwest, formerly
Northwest Michigan Council of
Governments, is a regional organization serving businesses, nonprofits,
community organizations, individuals, and units of government. Our
mission is to build stronger communities and enhance the quality of life
in Northwest Michigan.
Food and farming are cornerstones of northwest Michigan’s
economy, identity, and quality of
life. Farms play an important role in
the growing demand for local food.
As farmers and food producers innovate and diversify, new job opportunities and expanding markets grow.
Networks Northwest offers access to
diverse information, programs, and
services related to the priorities and
policies impacting the continued
viability of the region’s food and
farming economy.
Planning and Policy
In 2014, Networks Northwest
released “The Framework for Our
Future: A Regional Prosperity Plan
for Northwest Michigan,” a regional
resource for communities working to
meet local goals. The framework was
developed, with participation from a
broad range of community leaders,
stakeholders, and the public as part
of Michigan’s Regional Prosperity

In 2014, Networks
Northwest released
“The Framework
for Our Future: A
Regional Prosperity
Plan for Northwest
Michigan”, a
regional resource
for communities
working to meet
local goals.

Initiative.
It includes a wealth of information and tools that all parts of the
community—the public, community leaders, businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and statewide
stakeholders—can use to supplement
their local deliberation, planning,
and decision-making processes. “A
Framework for Food & Farming in
Northwest Michigan” identifies ways
that local policies, incentives, and
community initiatives can support
and encourage farming operations
while also ensuring food access and
security in northwest Michigan.
In addition to the information and
strategies included in the “Frame33

work for Food and Farming,” Networks Northwest has also developed
a policy guidebook called “Food
Innovation Districts: An Economic
Gardening Guide,” a package of
how-to information and examples
that can help local governments and
other stakeholders benefit from the
growing market and community
demand for local and regional food.
The guidebook identifies a process
for developing food innovation districts that support economic gardening concepts through the co-location
and collaboration of food businesses
of different types.
www.networksnorthwest.org