Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Vermont Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) wascreated in 2009 when Senator Patrick Leahy secured $469,000 in funding throughthe USDA�s Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Center program. The goal of theInnovation Center program is to fund state-based Agriculture Innovationinitiatives that provide technical, marketing and organizational developmentservices to value-added agricultural businesses. Value-added businesses includefarms that do some level of processing for raw products, alternative production(e.g. organic), diversified farming, or local foods marketing. The AIC ischaired by the VT Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee and directed by 13board members, representing food system components and primary agriculturesectors of the state of Vermont. For FY 2010, Senator Leahy has secured onemillion dollars for the Vermont Agriculture Innovation Center to continue itswork and disburse funds to strategically enhance value-added agriculture in thestate of Vermont. FY 2010 funding will be available in five high-leverageproject areas, including ImprovingSystems of Technical and Business Assistance for Agricultural and Ag RelatedBusinesses.
