NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community

Food and Farming network Chamber Finds Fertile Ground in 20/20 Effort Loans inject $2M into area food operations By Bill O’Brien Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and its economic development arm—the Traverse Bay EDC—are proud of its work with The Northwest MI Farm and Food 20/20 Fund and continue to escalate support of regional agricultural operations. The chamber, the TBEDC, Northern Initiatives based in Marquette, and various lending partners have combined to inject upwards of $2 million into area operations either related to local food production, or companies using local food in their products or services. Loan recipients also gain valuable insight through the financial experts involved in the lending process. Some of those projects include: • Assisting a local fruit farm to buy sufficient cherry products to have goods ready for sale at the National Cherry Festival. • Helping an area hops farm with an $18,000 USDA loan for equipment to ramp up production of hops for area breweries. • A $30,000 loan for a Suttons Bay organic farm, restaurant and farmers market operation. • Two loans totaling $20,000 for a Grand Traverse company to produce local culinary oils. The chamber’s “20 Percent Local” initiative commits the organization to using at least 20 percent of local products at chamber events. (Photo: Traverse Bay EDC) • Two loans to a Leelanau County restaurant and food production business to expand operations. • A “20 Percent Local” initiative launched by the Chamber more than two years ago that commits the organization to using at least 20 percent of local products at chamber events. The chamber and EDC are

NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 34