The Contractor shall perform the following tasks: 1. Business Development Support A. Provide guidance on business planning, market access strategies, and food safety practices. a) Assist in creating a business plan for the agribusiness. Business plans include: 1. Company description 2. Organization management 3. Market and industry analysis 4. Marketing and promotion 5. Services or product line 6. Funding request 7. Financials b) Help build food safety plans, which includes: 1. Hazard analysis 2. Preventive controls 3. Procedures for monitoring the preventative controls 4. Corrective action procedures 5. Verification procedures 6. Written recall plan c) Market Access Strategies 1. Connecting to restaurants, distributors, retail, direct consumer, etc. 2. Food safety requirements 3. Quantity required 4. Packaging 5. Transportation 2. Resource Connection A. Connect clients to a broad support network and a wide range of agricultural resources. a) Introduce to larger network for continued assistance. Some examples below: 1. Small Business Development Center 2. Clemson Extension 3. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 4. USDA’s Rural Development 5. Food hubs 6. Food distributors 7. Co-packers 3. Grant Application Assistance A. Assist agribusinesses in applying for the ACRE Advanced Program and other federal grant opportunities. a) A business plan is required for ACRE’s Advanced Program. Contractor will help put together every section of the business plan (tasks for this are listed above) b) Federal grants require a copious amount of complicated paperwork. Contractor will help grant applicant complete the grant application, which often includes the below: a) SF-424 – budget b) Grant narrative 1. Demonstrate how project meets the grant’s purpose 2. Goals of the grant and how they will be accomplished 3. Description of methodology 4. Work plan and budget c) Past financials d) Matching funds (if required) verification e) Letters 1. Partnership letters 2. Support letters 3. Letters from who the applicant is assisting...
