Technical Assistance Pilot Program
Grow Your Local Food Business with Expert Guidance
What’s the purpose?
After many years of running the Local Food Trade Show, and the wraparound workshops, and working with our colleagues across the state and New England to support local food entrepreneurs, we are looking at new ways to support and elevate local food businesses.
We understand that starting and running a local food business presents unique challenges, and opportunities. The Technical Assistance Pilot Program is designed to provide targeted support to address these needs.
How does it work?
Our TA Pilot Program is designed to connect the many amazing industry experts we have the privilege of working with, with the food businesses that can best use their expertise.
We vet local consultants to understand what they offer, the kinds of businesses and entrepreneurs they are best prepared to help, as well as their specific package for this program.
Each consultant who joins the program offers a discount package — this is a specific offering for a specific price that makes sense for the way they consult.
Each consultee who participates will be paying for the discounted package, once it is agreed upon.
We meet with each consultee: SBN-member entrepreneurs who have an identified need. We work with them to understand what they are looking for, where they are in their business journey, and how best we can support them.
We provide the match and structure to facilitate the relationship.
Who’s involved?
The Consultant: You are willing and able to provide your services and expertise at a discounted rate, in the form of a discounted package. For example, a consultant might normally provide a one-hour meeting plus follow-up texts and emails for a month for $150; for this program they may offer that service for $50. Another consultant normally offers a one-hour intensive meeting designed for the consultee to leave knowing exactly what they need to do and a check-list of next steps. This meeting is $200. For this program they may offer this meeting for $75. They also offer large projects and more involved services, but for this program they are just offering the discrete, one-time meeting.
The Consultee: You are an SBN-member food business that has an identified need for support and expert guidance. You understand that you will be paying for the consulting, once you have reviewed and agreed to the package and consultant.
SBN’s Local Food Program: We will collect the information to make matches possible, and productive. We will provide any guidance we are qualified to provide in house, and will work with both consultants and consultees to ensure a good fit.
What’s the cost?
Participation in the program is free — SBN is paying for our services in this program. When you agree to a match, the consultee will pay the consultant directly for their services based on the agreement. You will not be committed to any payments until you decide upon a match; knowing the cost as well as the offering will be part of the decision-making process.