Arizona Ag Business Boot Camp
About the Program
As part of the new Southwest Regional Food Business Center (SWRFBC), Connecting Ag, in partnership with Local First Arizona, is providing business support services for small to mid-size farmers. The Arizona Ag Business Boot Camp is an 8-week program dedicated to providing practical skills and tools for starting or expanding an agriculture business using peer-to-peer learning, webinars, 1-1 tailored support, and hands-on learning workshops. It will be a hybrid format of in-person and online (Zoom) workshops, as well as onsite farm and facility tours.
Space is limited to 15 participants for this opportunity.
Enrollment costs of this new program will be covered by the SWRFBC. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.
Details
Eligibility for Participation:
Currently a farming operation located in Arizona
Dates: Weekly, starting February 3 - March 24, 2025
Day/Time: Mondays from 9:00am - 11:00am
Location: (in-person) Camp Verde Community Library & (online) Zoom
Note: There will be onsite tours for this cohort and located in or close to Camp Verde.
Registration Coming Soon
Course Topics & Format
Week 1, Feb 3 (in-person): Welcome & Orientation; Introduction of the Business Plan
Week 2, Feb 10 (online Zoom): Developing a Business Plan & Knowing Your Numbers
Week 3, Feb 17 (online Zoom): Food Safety & Certifications
Week 4, Feb 24 (in-person): Value-Added Products, Commercial Kitchens, & Market Channels (Workshop & Onsite Tour)
Week 5, Mar 3 (online Zoom): Selling to Diverse Markets (Restaurants, Schools, Hospitals, SNAP/EBT, Direct to Consumer, Retail)
Week 6, Mar 10 (in-person): How to Do Impactful Marketing & Tell Your Story; Agritourism (Workshop & Onsite Tour)
Week 7, Mar 17 (online Zoom): How to Fund Your Farm (Farm Service Agency, USDA Programs, the SWRFBC, other Funding Resources)
Week 8, Mar 24 (in-person): Business Plan Presentations & the Arizona Food System Community; Graduation
For full descriptions of the curriculum course topics, visit here.
If you're interested in the Arizona Ag Business Boot Camp and have any questions or would like assistance with the registration form, please contact us.
