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Appalachian Sustainable Development is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.


ASD Positions

Regional Food Business Center Project Manager

ASD Summary
Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is a not-for-profit organization working in the Appalachian region of Virginia and Tennessee, with some programs extending into Appalachian Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.  Formed in 1995, ASD’s mission is to build a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians.   

Project Summary
The Central Appalachian Network (CAN) is a recent recipient of a large 5-year, $42.5 million grant from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in support of building the Appalachian Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC). The ARFBC was created to build more resilient food systems across Central Appalachia. The goals of this project include working in OH, WV, VA, KY, and TN to build on current work and add resiliency to Appalachian food systems by working with at least 10,000 farms and food businesses over 5 years to:

1) Strengthen infrastructure for aggregation, distribution, and processing;

2) Make local foods more accessible by creating new markets (in small, rural communities, e.g.) and increasing connectivity between rural producers and urban consumers;

3) Build capacity (through sub-awards and direct technical assistance) among small and medium sized farms and food businesses.

Position Summary
The Regional Food Business Center Project Manager will serve as ASD’s lead on this project and will have overall responsibility for the successful execution of ASD’s commitments. This individual will work with senior and middle management and directly with program and administrative staff as needed and appropriate to ensure deliverables are met, data is captured, and reporting developed and delivered in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

  • ASD project lead for RFBC, including serving as ASD’s representative at RFBC partner meetings
  • Create and implement ASD’s process for identifying business builder grant recipients, in accordance with USDA and ARFBC guidelines
  • Conduct outreach across ASD’s footprint in SWVA/NETN and coordinate with other RFBCs to promote cross-regional support and market development
  • Develop relationships with federal program representatives (including but not limited to the following list), and build network and framework for ASD to support successful interactions with value chain participants
    • Farmers Market Promotion Program, Beginning Farmer and Rancher, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Specialty Crop Block Grants, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and others as tools to address community needs, create new markets for the communities in our networks, support producers, promote conservation, and promote innovation of value-added products.
  • Provide support to all participating program staff in the Ag Education department, Appalachian Harvest food hub, and others as identified.
  • Assist Ag Ed Director with developing appropriate curriculum to prepare applicants for successful business builder grant applications 
  • Lead ASD’s partnership with the Agrarian Trust and local legal experts, provide technical assistance to assist with farm transitions, keep agricultural land in production, and assist beginning farmers and ranchers with land access.
  • Strengthen the overall ARFBC capacity by sharing expertise among its anchor organizations and collaborators (ACEnet leads training on business marketing plans for food businesses, e.g.)

Skills Required
Project Management, including use of standard project management tools
Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google suites
Presentation in front of groups
Manage across organizational boundaries
Work well with a diverse team
Highly organized
Excellent communication skills

Experience Required
At least 5 years of project management experience
Experience/familiarity with federal grants
Networking
Understanding of the USDA and federal programs preferred
Ability to travel at least 25% of the time

Responsibilities

  • Research, analyze, and assess regenerative and innovative ag practices (e.g. controlled environment growing, vertical production, agrovoltaics) and climate resiliency strategies that increase farm/producer productivity and profitability over the long-term while reducing GHG emissions.
  • Work with leaders in the innovative ag and related fields (e.g. National Research Energy Lab) to bring opportunities and demonstrations to the region
  • Assist with creating non-food revenue streams to increase profitability for food producers; introduce strategies that support the development of high profit food production and climate resilient production practices to increase producer profitability.
  • Produce publications and provide producer support on a range of innovative agriculture topics, including best practices for erosion control, stormwater management, riparian restoration, cover cropping, robotics and other advanced technology applications for agriculture, etc.
  • Support producers and food businesses in implementing energy efficient infrastructure  (e.g. REAP grant writing assistance)
  • Identify and support opportunities for small scale farmers to generate revenue for carbon sequestration and other conservation credits
  • Conduct and interpret research related to programs involving agriculture impacts of climate change in order to help mitigate the effects and build resilience
  • Analyze and distill climate-related research findings on specific topics (such as biochar, carbon credits, etc.) to inform and guide program, site, and/or facility managers in their decision-making
  • Promote local initiatives to mitigate climate change
  • Create deliverables and present climate-related information, as needed for various groups (internal and external to the organization)
  • Host/Participate in workshops focused on climate-related goals (such as conservation, water quality, emergency preparedness)
  • Assist in preparation of grant applications to obtain funding for program initiatives related to climate change, environmental management, and/or sustainability
  • Set up demonstration research gardens and/or projects
  • Manage data in order to produce replicable models and/or systems
  • Explore partnership opportunities for climate-based technologies and initiatives
  • Host internal climate committee and attend CAN climate conference
  • Support ASD’s mission and promote DEI principles in all facets of work

Skills Required
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education, Environmental Science, Sustainable Agriculture, Agronomy, or related field.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Analytical thinking
Project management

Experience Required
Minimum of 3 years work experience in analysis, education, training, and/or research
Preparing reports
Conducting analysis
Preparing and delivering training and technical assistance

Agriculture Education Capacity Building VISTA – Americorps

Position Description
This is an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) position. To learn more about AmeriCorps VISTAs, please visit www.americorps.gov. To apply for this position, visit https://americorps.gov/join

The goal of this position is to:
Increase the effectiveness of Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Agriculture Education programming. The Agriculture Education Capacity Building VISTA will build capacity by ensuring the specific needs of the community are being met and improving project sustainability through sustainable volunteer management.

Program (Project) Summary
Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is a non-profit that’s been supporting local agriculture since 1995. From the beginning, ASD has been assisting agriculture producers of all skill levels by offering various educational opportunities, resources, and technical assistance. The Agriculture Education team teaches small to tall people how to grow their own food as they navigate the Producer Pathway and participate in programs based on their individual learning goals, whether it be providing fresh food for their families or growing a successful farm business.

Objective of the Assignment  
Ensure Agriculture Education programming is meeting the needs of the community it serves 

  • Member Activity: Identify target audiences for agriculture education (e.g. youth, beginning farmers)
    • Research regional demographics and compile information relevant to low-income, at-risk, underserved communities
    • Analyze research to determine potential impact of agriculture education programs on breaking the cycle of poverty
  • Member Activity: Facilitate a regional Farm to School team to share best practices, connect projects, distribute curriculum, and develop sustainability plans
    • Conduct programmatic needs assessments to support strategic planning process
    • Build a regional Farm to School listserv
    • Electronically distribute relevant material such as funding opportunities, seasonally appropriate garden tasks, and upcoming programmatic deadlines
  • Member Activity: Ensure collaboration with the Faith in Action Community Garden team
    • Participate in garden events and activities
  • Member Activity: Conduct on-farm site visits with beginning gardeners interested in transitioning to income-producing market gardening
    • Develop site visit protocol to record relevant qualitative and quantitative data
    • Identify experts and community partners qualified to assist with the needs of individual transitioning market gardeners
    • Develop pre- and post- participation survey to measure effectiveness of program

Objective of the Assignment 
Build program capacity in conjunction with other ASD staff and AmeriCorps members by developing a sustainable volunteer base to support and expand agriculture education programming.

  • Member Activity: Compile and update a functional database of volunteers and community partners
    • Connect with current and past community members and site partners
    • Capture relevant metrics (i.e. location, skills, interest, capacity, etc.)
  • Member Activity: Recruit and maintain a sustainable volunteer base
    • Develop and pilot a volunteer retention policy
    • Explore and recruit from untapped volunteer pools
    • Schedule, facilitate, and develop protocol for volunteer events such as seed sorting events, community garden open hours, and dedicated garden clean ups
  • Member Activity: Develop opportunities for community members to become community leaders (Ex: adopting community garden maintenance, organizing fundraising events, scheduling volunteer work days, etc.)

Supervision
This position reports to the Agriculture Education Program Manager but may also be expected to work closely with other ASD employees, and with limited daily supervision. 

Location
Abingdon/Bristol, Virginia, with occasional travel to Duffield, Virginia

Hours
Full time – 35 hours per week, option available for four-day work week.

Agriculture Education Marketing & Development VISTA – Americorps

Position Description
This is an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) position. To learn more about AmeriCorps VISTAs, please visit www.americorps.gov. To apply for this position, visit https://americorps.gov/join

The goal of this position is to:
To increase the effectiveness of Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Agriculture Education programming. The Agriculture Education Marketing VISTA will build capacity by increasing program awareness and improving project sustainability through diversified funding streams. 

Program (Project) Summary
Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is a non-profit that’s been supporting local agriculture since 1995. From the beginning, ASD has been assisting agriculture producers of all skill levels by offering various educational opportunities, resources, and technical assistance. The Agriculture Education team teaches small to tall people how to grow their own food as they navigate the Producer Pathway and participate in programs based on their individual learning goals, whether it be providing fresh food for their families or growing a successful farm business.

Objective of the Assignment  
Increase awareness of and participation in available programming by developing and adhering to a strategic agriculture education outreach and recruitment plan.

  • Member Activity: Develop and adhere to a strategic annual and replicable agriculture education outreach plan.
    • Research best practices associated with developing and releasing promotional content for programming;
    • Create strategically timed press releases, quarterly newsletters, monthly blog posts, and targeted social media content (ongoing)
  • Member Activity: Support virtual and in-person agriculture education outreach and recruitment initiatives
    • Develop protocol for regional outreach opportunities to include relevant checklists, budgets, volunteer pools, etc.
    • Coordinate with other ASD programs, staff, AmeriCorps members, and regional community partners to emphasize and promote connections within the Producer Pathway.
    • Assist with coordination of agricultural education program recruitment and execution

Objective of the Assignment 
Assist in developing a sustainable long-term funding strategy for Agriculture Education Programming.

  • Member Activity: Assist in the preparation of funding opportunities (grant applications, donation requests, letters of inquiry, etc.) to support long term programming and projects addressing immediate program needs (ongoing)
  • Member Activity: Assist in the management of grant reporting by developing metric-tracking tools adaptable to programmatic goals, grants goals, and organizational goals (ongoing; as appropriate)
  • Member Activity: Develop protocol for the execution of program-specific replicable fundraising events or campaigns (by 5/15/2023)

Supervision
This position reports to the Director of Agriculture Education but, may also be expected to work closely with other ASD employees, and with limited daily supervision. 

Location
Abingdon/Bristol, Virginia, with occasional travel to Tazewell and Buchanan counties and Duffield, Virginia

Hours
Full time – 35 hours per week, option available for four-day work week.

Truck Driver – Appalachian Harvest

We need more Appalachian Harvest Drivers!

ASD’s Appalachian Harvest Food Hub in Duffield, VA provides support, training, aggregation and distribution support to markets for regional farmers.  Since 2000, farmers have sold more than $16 million dollars of fruits and vegetables to wholesale retailers. 

All drivers must have:

  • 2 years over the road experience
  • Hold a Class A CDL
  • Ability to pass required drug screen
  • A good driving record

Contact Chelsea Lee for more details:
Phone: (276) 431-3385
Email: clee@asdevelop.org


Request for Proposals

business and marketing plan

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Business and Marketing Plan

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is inviting proposals for the development of a Business and Marketing Plan for its new campus at 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, VA, 24202. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications, our needs, and other factors. Please review the criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory. The start date of this project is contingent on ASD obtaining grant funding which should be confirmed in January 2024. 

Project Description

In September 2022, ASD procured 17.6 acres of undeveloped land in Washington County, VA, with the goal of creating an agricultural campus. The campus will contain multiple structures and agricultural demonstration plots. A master site plan has been developed and we are now seeking services to develop a Business and Marketing Plan.

Background – Appalachian Sustainable Development

ASD was founded in 1995 to develop natural asset-based economic opportunities for those in our core footprint of southwest VA and northeast TN. Since that time, our work has expanded dramatically to include:

Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: established in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is ASD’s rural Food Hub. Following the federal deregulation of tobacco production, many local farmers found their incomes drastically reduced and wanted alternative crops to capitalize on their experience and existing resources. Our Food Hub assisted growers by transitioning them from growing tobacco to produce, allowing them to remain on their family farms. Our team works with small to medium-scale local and regional farmers, helping them get their goods to market. We provide GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification training, assist with organic certifications, and provide year-round technical support. Our team also secures orders from various wholesale markets and provides aggregation and distribution of locally and regionally grown produce from Maryland to Georgia. The Appalachian Harvest Food Hub also led the development of the Central Appalachian Food Corridor, which brings together nonprofits, producers, and private industry to serve producers and markets in a broad footprint. The goal of this project is to reduce unhealthy competition and increase the viability of the local food system in Central Appalachia through coordination and “coopetition”. 

Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub: established in 2017, the Herb Hub provides processing, marketing, aggregation, and distribution services to herb producers and harvesters to enable them to access national and international markets. The Herb Hub is built on the philosophy of conservation through commerce, where producers and harvesters receive a substantial price premium for following environmentally sustainable practices. 

Agroforestry: In addition to operating the Herb Hub, our agroforestry work includes training both individuals and trainers, implementing demonstration sites, supporting the development of nurseries, and launching new projects such as the Point of Harvest program which trains and then certifies wild harvesters in plant stewardship.

Groundwork: ASD’s workforce development program works with individuals who have barriers to employment to help them find meaningful work. This program provides paid on-the-job transferable, training opportunities along with personal and professional development.

Agricultural Education: Our Agriculture Education programs involve training everyone from children to commercial scale farmers. We operate school and afterschool gardening programs and community gardens, and teach a variety of classes from production to processing and preservation to business planning and marketing. 

Food Access:  In 2004 ASD began buying seconds produce from farmers selling through the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub and then donating it to those in need through food banks and food pantries. During the pandemic this work expanded dramatically, including distributing over 5 million pounds of food in just a 14-month period. Since that time, we have obtained grant funding to create food boxes for distribution to families in need ~ 1200 boxes per week that contain produce, meat, and milk. In addition to distributing boxes from our Food Hub in Duffield, we also work with 25+ partners who help get food the last mile.

New Campus

ASD’s new campus builds on the work described above and will include a business development hub, secondary food hub, maintenance building, and housing for short term rentals and for our workforce development participants. It will also include several different agricultural demonstration sites and production facilities, including two greenhouses and a lathhouse. Other features include a pond, walking trails, and small covered teaching pavilions. We also wish to incorporate solar and other energy and water saving technologies into this plan.

It is our intent to pursue funding from federal, state, philanthropic, and private sources. 

Proposal Requirements

ASD requests proposals from business and marketing consultants experienced in the food and agriculture sector. 

The new campus provides ASD with the opportunity to expand its operations both geographically and in the services offered. ASD seeks proposals from consultants who will work with ASD board, staff, and community advisors to explore and expand on the existing master site plan and vision. We require assistance with determining various operational needs, including staff, facilities, equipment, supply, and potential markets for products. 

We expect that the final deliverable will include, at minimum:

  • Executive Summary: an outline of the organization, including the mission statement, leadership, employees, operations, and location and explanation/justification for expansion.
  • Products and Services: pricing, product lifespan, customers, and benefits to each class of customer. Included in this section should be an exploration of how ASD will serve the agriculture community in relevant and necessary ways.
  • Marketing Strategy and Analysis: exploration of industry and business trends and background, discussion of potential operations, competition, consumer demand, expected ease of acquiring market shares. The marketing strategy should describe how the organization will acquire and keep its client base and expand to meet growing consumer demands. This section should also include a description of advertising and marketing campaign plans, and targeted media strategies.
  • Financial Plan: financial projections, operating costs for the campus, and strategies for covering expenses.
  • Budget: estimation of revenues and expenses related to the operation of the campus for a 5-year period.

Responses to this RFP should include:

  1. The firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number.
  2. The principal(s) of the firm and their experience and qualifications.
  3. The experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project.
  4. A description of the firm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular agricultural and business projects), location, total project cost, and the name of a local official knowledgeable regarding the firm’s performance.
  5. A description of the firm’s current work activities, how these would be coordinated with the project, and the firm’s anticipated availability during the project term.
  6. The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed.
  7. List the past five (5) projects involving similar scopes of work, especially any projects involving food hubs or other agricultural sites and campuses with multiple buildings, including contact names.

Respondents will be evaluated according to the following factors:

  • Qualifications of the Professional Personnel to be assigned to the project (25%)
  • Related Experience on Similar Projects (20%)
  • Present & Projected Workloads (20%)
  • Consultant’s Capacity to Meet Time and Project Budget Requirements (20%)
  • The overall quality of the proposal (5%);
  • Recent & Current Work for the Entity Issuing the RFP (5%)
  • Location (5%)

We are seeking proposals from entities that can begin work in late January/early February 2024, as soon as we are notified of a successful grant application. It is our hope to proceed quickly and complete this work within 2-3 months.

ASD may select finalists to be interviewed at its discretion. ASD will base the finalists’ selection on its evaluation of the written responses. The award will be made to the most qualified offeror whose proposal is deemed most advantageous to ASD, all factors considered. Unsuccessful offerors will be notified as soon as possible. Questions and responses should be directed to Appalachian Sustainable Development, Kathlyn Terry Baker at (276) 431-3385 or kterry@asdevelop.org. 

All responses must be received by 5:00 PM on January 25, 2024. Proposals may not exceed 20 one-sided pages, excluding standard corporate brochures and resumes. Please state “Business and Marketing Plan Proposal” outside the response package or in the subject line of the email, which must be sent to ASD at PO Box 475, Duffield, VA 24244 or via email to kterry@asdevelop.org.

Responses will be reviewed on January 26, 2024, To the greatest extent, business concerns located in or substantially owned by residents of Washington County will be utilized. Disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are encouraged to apply. For more information, please get in touch with Kathlyn Terry Baker.

This solicitation follows federal and state statutes governing professional services procurement. Accordingly, ASD reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services proposed and the right to reject all unqualified, unsatisfactory, or inappropriate responses

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person for this RFP is: 

Kathlyn Terry Baker

ASD Chief Executive Officer, 

Office: 276.431.3385

Cell: 423.863.7640

Email: kterry@asdevelop.org

Economic Impact Assessment

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Economic Impact Assessment

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is inviting proposals for the development of an Economic Impact Assessment for its new campus at 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, VA, 24202. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications, our needs, and other factors. Please review the criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory. The start date of this project is contingent on ASD obtaining grant funding which should be confirmed in January 2024. 

Project Description
In September 2022, ASD procured 17.6 acres of undeveloped land in Washington County, VA, with the goal of creating an agricultural campus. The campus will contain multiple structures and agricultural demonstration plots. A master site plan has been developed and we are now seeking services to develop an Economic Impact Assessment.

Background – Appalachian Sustainable Development

ASD was founded in 1995 to develop natural asset-based economic opportunities for those in our core footprint of southwest VA and northeast TN. Since that time, our work has expanded dramatically to include:

Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: established in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is ASD’s rural Food Hub. Following the federal deregulation of tobacco production, many local farmers found their incomes drastically reduced and wanted alternative crops to capitalize on their experience and existing resources. Our Food Hub assisted growers by transitioning them from growing tobacco to produce, allowing them to remain on their family farms. Our team works with small to medium-scale local and regional farmers, helping them get their goods to market. We provide GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification training, assist with organic certifications, and provide year-round technical support. Our team also secures orders from various wholesale markets and provides aggregation and distribution of locally and regionally grown produce from Maryland to Georgia. The Appalachian Harvest Food Hub also led the development of the Central Appalachian Food Corridor, which brings together nonprofits, producers, and private industry to serve producers and markets in a broad footprint. The goal of this project is to reduce unhealthy competition and increase the viability of the local food system in Central Appalachia through coordination and “coopetition”. 

Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub: established in 2017, the Herb Hub provides processing, marketing, aggregation, and distribution services to herb producers and harvesters to enable them to access national and international markets. The Herb Hub is built on the philosophy of conservation through commerce, where producers and harvesters receive a substantial price premium for following environmentally sustainable practices. 

Agroforestry: In addition to operating the Herb Hub, our agroforestry work includes training both individuals and trainers, implementing demonstration sites, supporting the development of nurseries, and launching new projects such as the Point of Harvest program which trains and then certifies wild harvesters in plant stewardship.

Groundwork: ASD’s workforce development program works with individuals who have barriers to employment to help them find meaningful work. This program provides paid on-the-job transferable, training opportunities along with personal and professional development.

Agricultural Education: Our Agriculture Education programs involve training everyone from children to commercial scale farmers. We operate school and afterschool gardening programs and community gardens, and teach a variety of classes from production to processing and preservation to business planning and marketing. 

Food Access:  In 2004 ASD began buying seconds produce from farmers selling through the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub and then donating it to those in need through food banks and food pantries. During the pandemic this work expanded dramatically, including distributing over 5 million pounds of food in just a 14-month period. Since that time, we have obtained grant funding to create food boxes for distribution to families in need ~ 1200 boxes per week that contain produce, meat, and milk. In addition to distributing boxes from our Food Hub in Duffield, we also work with 25+ partners who help get food the last mile.

New Campus
ASD’s new campus builds on the work described above and will include a business development hub, secondary food hub, maintenance building, and housing for short term rentals and for our workforce development participants. It will also include several different agricultural demonstration sites and production facilities, including two greenhouses and a lathhouse. Other features include a pond, walking trails, and small covered teaching pavilions. We also wish to incorporate solar and other energy and water saving technologies into this plan.

It is our intent to pursue funding from federal, state, philanthropic, and private sources. 

Proposal Requirements
ASD is seeking services to assess the economic impact of its new campus in Washington County, VA. This campus will serve as a hub of operations for a variety of income generating and non-income generating activities and will be utilized by food and agriculture systems stakeholders in a multi-state region. The assessment should include evaluation of the impacts of:

  • 10,000 sf Business Development Hub and its work to support and incubate farmers, food entrepreneurs, and agroforesters
  • ~8,000 sf Food Hub (secondary food hub to Duffield location) to include:
    • Processing infrastructure for value added products
    • Aggregation and distribution services for produce, beef, and value added products
    • Controlled environment production of high value medicinal herbs
  • 4-8 Short-term rentals and their impact both on ASD’s financial model and the development of agritourism in the region, including training for those seeking to implement agritourism.
  • Our workforce development program for individuals with barriers and its impact on recidivism and economic development, in addition to the social enterprises that will generate revenue on site  
  • Agriculture education and demonstration sites and the impact they will have on the efficiency and success of farms in the region
  • Efficiency and conservation demonstration sites such as creative use of solar in agriculture settings and water management

ASD seeks the services of an experienced entity that can analyze money flowing into our region due to ASD’s activities. The study should then determine how the diffusion of that money affects business revenues, household income and employment in the region, while accounting for leakages due to ensuing spending outside of the region. The study should also include data to illustrate the future economic impact of ASD’s campus. The consultant should propose and utilize impact metrics appropriate for the project for 5, 10, and 20 year periods..

Responses to this RFP should include:

  1. The firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number.
  2. The principal(s) of the firm and their experience and qualifications.
  3. The experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project.
  4. A description of the firm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular agricultural and business projects), location, total project cost, and the name of a local official knowledgeable regarding the firm’s performance.
  5. A description of the firm’s current work activities, how these would be coordinated with the project, and the firm’s anticipated availability during the project term.
  6. The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed.
  7. List the past five (5) projects involving similar scopes of work, especially any projects involving food hubs or other agricultural sites and campuses with multiple buildings, including contact names.

Respondents will be evaluated according to the following factors:

  • Qualifications of the Professional Personnel to be assigned to the project (25%)
  • Related Experience on Similar Projects (20%)
  • Present & Projected Workloads (20%)
  • Consultant’s Capacity to Meet Time and Project Budget Requirements (20%)
  • The overall quality of the proposal (5%);
  • Recent & Current Work for the Entity Issuing the RFP (5%)
  • Location (5%)

We are seeking proposals from entities that can begin work in late January/early February 2024, as soon as we are notified of a successful grant application. It is our hope to proceed quickly and complete this work within 2-3 months.

ASD may select finalists to be interviewed at its discretion. ASD will base the finalists’ selection on its evaluation of the written responses. The award will be made to the most qualified offeror whose proposal is deemed most advantageous to ASD, all factors considered. Unsuccessful offerors will be notified as soon as possible. Questions and responses should be directed to Appalachian Sustainable Development, Kathlyn Terry Baker at (276) 431-3385 or kterry@asdevelop.org. 

All responses must be received by 5:00 PM on January 25, 2024. Proposals may not exceed 20 one-sided pages, excluding standard corporate brochures and resumes. Please state “Economic Impact Assessment Proposal” outside the response package or in the subject line of the email, which must be sent to ASD at PO Box 475, Duffield, VA 24244 or via email to kterry@asdevelop.org.

Responses will be reviewed on January 26, 2024, To the greatest extent, business concerns located in or substantially owned by residents of Washington County will be utilized. Disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are encouraged to apply. For more information, please get in touch with Kathlyn Terry Baker.

This solicitation follows federal and state statutes governing professional services procurement. Accordingly, ASD reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services proposed and the right to reject all unqualified, unsatisfactory, or inappropriate responses

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person for this RFP is: 

Kathlyn Terry Baker
ASD Chief Executive Officer, 
Office: 276.431.3385
Cell: 423.863.7640
Email: kterry@asdevelop.org  

Environmental Assessment

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Environmental Assessment

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is inviting proposals for the development of an Environmental Assessment for its new campus at 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, VA, 24202. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications, our needs, and other factors. Please review the criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory. The start date of this project is contingent on ASD obtaining grant funding which should be confirmed in January 2024. 

Project Description
In September 2022, ASD procured 17.6 acres of undeveloped land in Washington County, VA, with the goal of creating an agricultural campus. The campus will contain multiple structures and agricultural demonstration plots. A master site plan has been developed and we are now seeking services to develop an Environmental Assessment.

Background – Appalachian Sustainable Development
ASD was founded in 1995 to develop natural asset-based economic opportunities for those in our core footprint of southwest VA and northeast TN. Since that time, our work has expanded dramatically to include:

Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: established in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is ASD’s rural Food Hub. Following the federal deregulation of tobacco production, many local farmers found their incomes drastically reduced and wanted alternative crops to capitalize on their experience and existing resources. Our Food Hub assisted growers by transitioning them from growing tobacco to produce, allowing them to remain on their family farms. Our team works with small to medium-scale local and regional farmers, helping them get their goods to market. We provide GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification training, assist with organic certifications, and provide year-round technical support. Our team also secures orders from various wholesale markets and provides aggregation and distribution of locally and regionally grown produce from Maryland to Georgia. The Appalachian Harvest Food Hub also led the development of the Central Appalachian Food Corridor, which brings together nonprofits, producers, and private industry to serve producers and markets in a broad footprint. The goal of this project is to reduce unhealthy competition and increase the viability of the local food system in Central Appalachia through coordination and “coopetition”. 

Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub: established in 2017, the Herb Hub provides processing, marketing, aggregation, and distribution services to herb producers and harvesters to enable them to access national and international markets. The Herb Hub is built on the philosophy of conservation through commerce, where producers and harvesters receive a substantial price premium for following environmentally sustainable practices. 

Agroforestry: In addition to operating the Herb Hub, our agroforestry work includes training both individuals and trainers, implementing demonstration sites, supporting the development of nurseries, and launching new projects such as the Point of Harvest program which trains and then certifies wild harvesters in plant stewardship.

Groundwork: ASD’s workforce development program works with individuals who have barriers to employment to help them find meaningful work. This program provides paid on-the-job transferable, training opportunities along with personal and professional development.

Agricultural Education: Our Agriculture Education programs involve training everyone from children to commercial scale farmers. We operate school and afterschool gardening programs and community gardens, and teach a variety of classes from production to processing and preservation to business planning and marketing. 

Food Access:  In 2004 ASD began buying seconds produce from farmers selling through the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub and then donating it to those in need through food banks and food pantries. During the pandemic this work expanded dramatically, including distributing over 5 million pounds of food in just a 14-month period. Since that time, we have obtained grant funding to create food boxes for distribution to families in need ~ 1200 boxes per week that contain produce, meat, and milk. In addition to distributing boxes from our Food Hub in Duffield, we also work with 25+ partners who help get food the last mile.

Proposal Requirements
ASD is seeking the services of a firm to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for ASD’s proposed project to implement its agricultural campus in Washington County, VA. As a part of this effort, the contracted firm will conduct agency coordination, as needed for the EA, and to prepare internal versions of the Draft EA, Final EA, and Finding of No Significant Impact for review and will revise these documents per ASD comment prior to publication. The consultant will provide guidance to ASD throughout the process, including recommendations such as making the Draft EA public for a 30-day public review, preparing a public notice, and arranging for publication of the EA in one newspaper local to the project area to run one time. Any studies required by regulatory agencies, such as cultural resources surveys, wetland delineation, habitat assessments or threatened and endangered species surveys, and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment are not included in this scope or work.

Responses to this RFP should include:

  1. The firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number.
  2. The principal(s) of the firm and their experience and qualifications.
  3. The experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project.
  4. A description of the firm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular agricultural and business projects), location, total project cost, and the name of a local official knowledgeable regarding the firm’s performance.
  5. A description of the firm’s current work activities, how these would be coordinated with the project, and the firm’s anticipated availability during the project term.
  6. The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed.
  7. List the past five (5) projects involving similar scopes of work, especially any projects involving food hubs or other agricultural sites and campuses with multiple buildings, including contact names.

Respondents will be evaluated according to the following factors:

  • Qualifications of the Professional Personnel to be assigned to the project (25%)
  • Related Experience on Similar Projects (20%)
  • Present & Projected Workloads (20%)
  • Consultant’s Capacity to Meet Time and Project Budget Requirements (20%)
  • The overall quality of the proposal (5%);
  • Recent & Current Work for the Entity Issuing the RFP (5%)
  • Location (5%)

We are seeking proposals from entities that can begin work in late January/early February 2024, as soon as we are notified of a successful grant application. It is our hope to proceed quickly and complete this work within 2-3 months.

ASD may select finalists to be interviewed at its discretion. ASD will base the finalists’ selection on its evaluation of the written responses. The award will be made to the most qualified offeror whose proposal is deemed most advantageous to ASD, all factors considered. Unsuccessful offerors will be notified as soon as possible. Questions and responses should be directed to Appalachian Sustainable Development, Kathlyn Terry Baker at (276) 431-3385 or kterry@asdevelop.org. 

All responses must be received by 5:00 PM on January 25, 2024. Proposals may not exceed 20 one-sided pages, excluding standard corporate brochures and resumes. Please state “Environmental Assessment Proposal” outside the response package or in the subject line of the email, which must be sent to ASD at PO Box 475, Duffield, VA 24244 or via email to kterry@asdevelop.org.

Responses will be reviewed on January 26, 2024, To the greatest extent, business concerns located in or substantially owned by residents of Washington County will be utilized. Disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are encouraged to apply. For more information, please get in touch with Kathlyn Terry Baker.

This solicitation follows federal and state statutes governing professional services procurement. Accordingly, ASD reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services proposed and the right to reject all unqualified, unsatisfactory, or inappropriate responses

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person for this RFP is: 

Kathlyn Terry Baker
ASD Chief Executive Officer
Office: 276.431.3385
Cell: 423.863.7640
Email: kterry@asdevelop.org

Preliminary Architectural Report

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Preliminary Architectural Report

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is inviting proposals for a Preliminary Architectural Report for its new campus at 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, VA, 24202. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications, our needs, and other factors. Please review the criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory. The start date of this project is contingent on ASD obtaining grant funding which should be confirmed in January 2024. 

Project Description
In September 2022, ASD procured 17.6 acres of undeveloped land in Washington County, VA, with the goal of creating an agricultural campus. The campus will contain multiple structures and agricultural demonstration plots. A master site plan has been developed and we are now seeking services to develop a Preliminary Architectural Report.

Background – Appalachian Sustainable Development
ASD was founded in 1995 to develop natural asset-based economic opportunities for those in our core footprint of Southwest VA and Northeast TN. Since that time, our work has expanded dramatically to include:

Appalachian Harvest Food Hub: established in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is ASD’s rural Food Hub. Following the federal deregulation of tobacco production, many local farmers found their incomes drastically reduced and wanted alternative crops to capitalize on their experience and existing resources. Our Food Hub assisted growers by transitioning them from growing tobacco to produce, allowing them to remain on their family farms. Our team works with small to medium-scale local and regional farmers, helping them get their goods to market. We provide GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification training, assist with organic certifications, and provide year-round technical support. Our team also secures orders from various wholesale markets and provides aggregation and distribution of locally and regionally grown produce from Maryland to Georgia. The Appalachian Harvest Food Hub also led the development of the Central Appalachian Food Corridor, which brings together nonprofits, producers, and private industry to serve producers and markets in a broad footprint. The goal of this project is to reduce unhealthy competition and increase the viability of the local food system in Central Appalachia through coordination and “coopetition”. 

Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub: established in 2017, the Herb Hub provides processing, marketing, aggregation, and distribution services to herb producers and harvesters to enable them to access national and international markets. The Herb Hub is built on the philosophy of conservation through commerce, where producers and harvesters receive a substantial price premium for following environmentally sustainable practices. 

Agroforestry: In addition to operating the Herb Hub, our agroforestry work includes training both individuals and trainers, implementing demonstration sites, supporting the development of nurseries, and launching new projects such as the Point of Harvest program which trains and then certifies wild harvesters in plant stewardship.

Groundwork: ASD’s workforce development program works with individuals who have barriers to employment to help them find meaningful work. This program provides paid on-the-job transferable, training opportunities along with personal and professional development.

Agricultural Education: Our Agriculture Education programs involve training everyone from children to commercial scale farmers. We operate school and afterschool gardening programs and community gardens, and teach a variety of classes from production to processing and preservation to business planning and marketing. 

Food Access:  In 2004 ASD began buying seconds produce from farmers selling through the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub and then donating it to those in need through food banks and food pantries. During the pandemic this work expanded dramatically, including distributing over 5 million pounds of food in just a 14-month period. Since that time, we have obtained grant funding to create food boxes for distribution to families in need ~ 1200 boxes per week that contain produce, meat, and milk. In addition to distributing boxes from our Food Hub in Duffield, we also work with 25+ partners who help get food the last mile.

New Campus
ASD’s new campus builds on the work described above and will include a business development hub, a secondary food hub, maintenance building, and housing for short term rentals and for our workforce development participants. It will also include several different agricultural demonstration sites and production facilities, including 2 greenhouses and a lathhouse. Other features include a pond, walking trails, and small covered teaching pavilions. We also wish to incorporate solar and other energy and water saving technologies into this plan.

It is our intent to pursue funding from federal, state, philanthropic, and private sources. 

Proposal Requirements
ASD requests proposals from interested, registered architectural firms in response to the following services.

The selected architect will prepare a Preliminary Architectural Report (PAR), which at a minimum, meets the requirements of the PAR as described in the most recent version of USDA Rural Development’s PAR outline for community facilities projects.

The services to be provided will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Describe the need for the proposed facility
  2. Identify the planning area and existing/potential service area.
  3. Evaluate the condition of the proposed project site and alternative sites/facilities, if applicable.
  4. Prepare a detailed analysis of the preferred project site.
  5. Develop recommendations regarding possible improvements to the proposed project site, including an alternatives analysis and prioritization of each proposed improvement.
  6. Prepare the preferred alternative analysis, including cost estimates for each recommendation.
  7. Analysis of the Environment/Environmental Consequences for the preferred alternative.
  8. The final report must comply with Guide 6 – Rural Development Instruction 1942-A for Preliminary Architectural Reports for Community Facilities Projects.

Responses to this RFP should include:

  1. The firm’s legal name, address, and telephone number.
  2. The principal(s) of the firm and their experience and qualifications.
  3. The experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned to the project.
  4. A description of the firm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular agricultural and business facilities projects), location, total construction cost, and the name of a local official knowledgeable regarding the firm’s performance.
  5. A description of the firm’s current work activities, how these would be coordinated with the project, and the firm’s anticipated availability during the project term.
  6. The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed.
  7. List the past five (5) projects involving similar facilities, especially any projects involving food hubs or other agricultural sites and campuses with multiple buildings, including contact names.

Respondents will be evaluated according to the following factors:

  • Qualifications of the Professional Personnel to be assigned to the project (25%)
  • Related Experience on Similar Projects (20%)
  • Present & Projected Workloads (20%)
  • Consultant’s Capacity to Meet Time and Project Budget Requirements (20%)
  • The overall quality of the proposal (5%);
  • Recent & Current Work for the Entity Issuing the RFP (5%)
  • Location (5%)

We are seeking proposals from entities that can begin work in late January/early February 2024, as soon as we are notified of a successful grant application. It is our hope to proceed quickly and complete this work within 2-3 months.

ASD may select finalists to be interviewed at its discretion. ASD will base the finalists’ selection on its evaluation of the written responses. The award will be made to the most qualified offeror whose proposal is deemed most advantageous to ASD, all factors considered. Unsuccessful offerors will be notified as soon as possible. Questions and responses should be directed to Appalachian Sustainable Development, Kathlyn Terry Baker at (276) 431-3385 or kterry@asdevelop.org. 

All responses must be received by 5:00 PM on January 25, 2024. Proposals may not exceed 20 one-sided pages, excluding standard corporate brochures and resumes. Please state “PAR Proposal” outside the response package or in the subject line of the email, which must be sent to ASD at PO Box 475, Duffield, VA 24244 or via email to kterry@asdevelop.org.

Responses will be reviewed on January 26, 2024, To the greatest extent, business concerns located in or substantially owned by residents of Washington County will be utilized. Disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are encouraged to apply. For more information, please get in touch with Kathlyn Terry Baker.

This solicitation follows federal and state statutes governing professional services procurement. Accordingly, ASD reserves the right to negotiate an agreement based on fair and reasonable compensation for the scope of work and services proposed and the right to reject all unqualified, unsatisfactory, or inappropriate responses

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person for this RFP is: 

Kathlyn Terry Baker
ASD Chief Executive Officer
Office: 276.431.3385
Cell: 423.863.7640
Email: kterry@asdevelop.org

Construction Contractor

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: Construction Contractor 

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is planning to hire a contractor for the construction of a new exterior cleaning/processing area for the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub. We will use federal funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission to pay for part of this purchase. As a requirement of this funding, we will be procuring the services through competitive negotiation.

We invite you to offer a proposal for the contracting of the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub exterior herb cleaning/processing area. Attached you will find a set of basic specifications which are intended to establish the minimum level of capacity, quality, operational requirements, etc. for the work we will be contracting. If you submit a proposal for the work, the contractor’s abilities must equal or exceed these basic specifications. Please feel free to offer equal or better alternatives and options if you so desire. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications and our needs, price and other factors considered. We are not limited, unless otherwise noted, to making our selection based only on the lowest-priced proposal. A range of factors, as noted below, will be considered in making the final selection. A weight of 1 to 4 has been assigned to each factor, denoting its relative importance in the final selection. Please review these criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory.

Evaluation Criteria and Relative Importance
Value System 1 to 4: 1 = Most important
(No more than three criteria shall be rated 1; two or more criteria must be rated 2 or 3)

  1. Price for completion (1)
  2. Duration of completion (2)
  3. Finish by date: August 1, 2023 (2)
  4. References (3)

An additional requirement of our grant is that we must maintain open and free competition in the negotiation process. It is our intention to fully consider and evaluate each proposal submitted. You should supply a complete set of specifications for the unit(s) on which your proposal is based with proposed options and alternates properly identified and priced.

We hope to make a final selection on or before 05/15/2023. Therefore, we must receive your proposal by 04/30/2023 for it to be considered. You will be notified if there are any changes to these dates. You will be notified no later than 05/30/2023 about the decision on your proposal.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person(s) for this RFP is:

Shannon Joyce (415)299-4192
Robin Suggs (276)791-2005
Appalachian Harvest/Appalachian Sustainable Development
Office: 276.431.3385
Fax: 276.431.3485 
Email: rsuggs@asdevelop.org 
Email: sjoyce@asdevelop.org

Proposals can be submitted electronically or in hard copy form to:
P.O. Box 475
Duffield, VA 24244

Or

280 Boone Trail Road
Duffield, VA 24244

Link to Specs Sheet

Construction Diagram Draft: 

Marketing Consultant (Beef Program) RFP

MARKETING CONSULTANT (BEEF PROGRAM)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is inviting proposals for marketing consulting services as detailed below. ASD will make a final selection based on the proposal which best meets the specifications and our needs, price and other factors. We are not limited, unless otherwise noted, to making our selection based only on the lowest-priced proposal. Please review these criteria carefully and include information in your proposal as appropriate. ASD reserves the right to ask for revised proposals from any or all companies submitting proposals if major revisions in the basic specifications become mandatory. 

Services Description 
ASD is seeking marketing consultant services to help develop a comprehensive marketing plan and materials for promoting locally produced meat products. We request the project to include a brand marketing campaign and strategy for the newly developed local beef program for wholesale buyers with consumer facing collateral for the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub located in Duffield, Virginia. 

Background – Appalachian Harvest Food Hub 
Founded in 2000, Appalachian Harvest is Appalachian Sustainable Development’s rural food hub. Following the federal deregulation of tobacco production, many local farmers found their incomes drastically reduced and wanted alternative crops to capitalize on their experience and existing resources. Our food hub assisted growers by transitioning them from tobacco to produce, allowing them to remain on their family farms. 

Our team works shoulder to shoulder with small to medium-scale local farmers, helping them get their goods to market. We provide GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification training, assist with organic certifications, and provide them with much-needed, year-round technical support. Our team also secures retail orders from various wholesale markets and provides aggregation and distribution of locally grown produce from Maryland to Georgia. We have a tremendous site opportunity to expand our offerings with the Department of Education, provided we can accomplish compliant on-site processing and packaging of food items for the school systems. 

The 22-year-old Appalachian Harvest Food Hub, utilizes efficient aggregation and distribution systems to access large urban grocery store distribution centers that pay a premium for locally and regionally sourced produce (i.e. $3MM annual sales). Adding meat as a product offering at AH will facilitate regional food chain coordination and allow us to develop a mid-tier value chain for meat products. The selected consultant will be provided with access to the project leadership to provide further context for this work.

Business Consulting Needs



Consulting Activities & Milestones Completion TimelineCompletion Timeline
1Research beef and produce market trends
● What do consumers want, what motivates
consumers to purchase local
● What communications channels are most effective
in reaching certain target audiences (wholesale
buyers and consumers)
● What types of content/messaging motivates
consumers to purchase local beef and produce
4 Weeks
2Develop brand style guide for beef program3 Weeks
3Develop market strategy and marketing calendar3 Weeks
4Create marketing materials for events, campaigns and
programs
3 Weeks

The maximum budget for this project is $13,000. As a funding requirement, we will be hiring through an open and free competitive negotiation process. It is our intention to fully consider and evaluate each proposal submitted. Invoices can be submitted as each agreed upon milestone is complete. The final invoice must be submitted on or before August 1, 2023. 

Evaluation Criteria and Relative Importance 
Value System 1 to 4: 1 = Most important 
(No more than three criteria shall be rated 1; two or more criteria must be rated 2 or 3) 

  1. On-time completion dates: 1 
  2. Price of services offered and materials needed: 1 
  3. Expertise and relevant experience in chosen field: 1 
  4. References from previous clients: 3 
  5. Examples from portfolio: 2 

Please review these criteria carefully and include information in your proposal, as appropriate. All proposals should also include: 

  1. the phone number and email address of the primary contact person 
  2. itemized price quote for costs associated with all consulting activities 
  3. samples of prior work 

Opportunity for this bid will be shared with a minimum of 3 marketing consultants by November 30, 2022 and ASD will accept bids until January 20, 2023 @ 5:00 PM. A bidder will be selected and announcements made to all bidders by no later than February 1st, 2023 @ 5:00 PM. All consulting activities must be completed by the completion dates specified. If more time is needed, alternative completion dates can be offered for negotiation. A mutual non-disclosure agreement will be required. 

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you. If you should have further questions, the contact person for this RFP is: 

Brittany Woodby/Regional Sales & Marketing 
Appalachian Harvest/Appalachian Sustainable Development 
Office: 276.431.3385 
Cell: 276.608.0995 
Email: bwoodby@asdvelop.org; avanover@asdevelop.org 

Proposals can be submitted electronically via email: to Brittany Woodby, or Angie Vanover; mail in hard copy form to Appalachian Harvest, Attention: Brittany Woodby, P.O. Box 475, Duffield, VA 24244, or submitted in hard copy form in person at 280 Boone Trail Road, Duffield, VA 24244. 


Groundwork Positions

Garden and Greenhouse Training Associate – Abingdon, va

Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Groundwork workforce development program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with wraparound services that support personal and career growth. The program provides opportunities for job shadowing and internships, in addition to advanced education through college coursework or certifications, as well as training on essential skills, financial literacy, career development, and more. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day work responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Maintenance of a community garden and greenhouse (mowing, infrastructure repair, clean-up/organization)
  • Using machinery and power tools (tiller, weed eater, mower, saws, drills)
  • Taking and testing soil samples
  • Crop planning with the Garden Supervisor
  • Greenhouse planning and management
  • Greenhouse and garden work (seed sowing, watering, transplanting, weeding)
  • Using pesticides as needed and directed
  • Developing a composting plan and system
  • Learning and implementing irrigation systems, including drip tape & sprinkler
  • Learning and implementing Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.)
  • Harvesting produce and flowers
  • Arranging cut flowers and other produce for sale
  • Working in the garden and greenhouse social enterprise, which may include:
    • Business planning and management, including developing a brand and customer base
    • Direct marketing and sales
    • Entrepreneurship workshops
    • Leadership workshops
    • Packing orders and shipping (if applicable)
    • Loading and delivering produce
    • Participating in potential evening and weekend markets
    • Driving to and from different work sites

Certifications and Trainings

As part of this program, Associates will participate in the following trainings and/or earn the following certifications:

TrainingsCertifications
Effective CommunicationsG.A.P Training (Certification)
Justice, Equity, Diversity, InclusionPesticide Application (Certification)
Resume Building and Career PlanningFood Safety
Goal SettingFirst Aid 
Financial Literacy

Please note:

As worksites and schedules may vary day-to-day, flexibility and patience are much appreciated. Reliable personal transportation is also preferred but not required. Applicants must be able to work outside in all weather conditions and must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

All associates must wear closed-toe shoes or boots in the garden. 

The total cost of the Groundwork workforce development program is $1,028,751. $853,456 (83%) of this program is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor–Employment and Training Administration grant. $175,295 (17%) of this program is funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission—Sprouting Farms grant. The program receives $0 (0%) in non-federal funding. The Groundwork workforce development program is fully funded (100%) by federal grants.

Garden Training Associate – Tazewell, va

Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Groundwork workforce development program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with wraparound services that support personal and career growth. The program provides opportunities for job shadowing and internships, in addition to advanced education through college coursework or certifications, as well as training on essential skills, financial literacy, career development, and more. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day work responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Maintenance of a community garden and greenhouse (mowing, infrastructure repair, clean-up/organization)
  • Using machinery and power tools (weed eater, mower, saws, drills, flame weeder, seeder, tiller)
  • Taking and testing soil samples
  • Crop planning with the Garden Supervisor
  • Greenhouse/garden work (seed sowing, watering, transplanting, weeding)
  • Using pesticides as needed and directed
  • Developing a composting plan and system
  • Learning and implementing irrigation systems, including drip tape and sprinkler
  • Harvesting produce 
  • Learning and implementing Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.)
  • Learning foundational business, marketing, and entrepreneurial skills
  • Working in the garden/greenhouse social enterprise, which may include:
    • Business planning and management, including developing a brand and customer base
    • Direct marketing and sales
    • Entrepreneurship workshops
    • Leadership workshops
    • Packing orders and shipping (if applicable)
    • Loading and delivering produce
    • Participating in potential evening and weekend markets
    • Driving to and from different work sites

Certifications and Trainings

As part of this program, employees will participate in the following trainings and/or earn the following certifications:

TrainingsCertifications
Effective CommunicationsGAP Training (Certification)
Justice, Equity, Diversity, InclusionPesticide Application (Certification)
Resume Building and Career PlanningFood Safety
Goal SettingFirst Aid 
Financial Literacy

Please note:  All associates must wear closed-toe shoes or boots in the garden. 

Commercial Kitchen Associate

Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Groundwork workforce development program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with wraparound services that support personal and career growth. The program provides opportunities for job shadowing and internships, plus advanced education through college coursework or certifications, as well as training on essential skills, financial literacy, career development, and more. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day work responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Preparing and processing food orders 
  • Maintaining cleanliness of all dishes, work stations, cooking equipment, and food storage areas in accordance with Federal and State food safety regulations.
  • Assisting supervisor in researching and developing new menu items
  • Sweeping and mopping floors, as required.
  • Unloading deliveries
  • Carrying deliveries of 50 or more pounds (on occasion)
  • Storing ingredients according to prescribed food safety regulations
  • Assisting with the monitoring of inventory
  • Reporting all damaged or faulty equipment to the kitchen manager
  • Recycling appropriate materials 
  • Assisting with business planning and development, as possible .
  • Some site visits 

Certifications and Trainings

As part of this program, employees will participate in the following trainings and/or earn the following certifications:

TrainingsCertifications
Effective CommunicationsFood Safety
Diversity/Equity/InclusionServSafe 
Resume Building and Career PlanningCPR/First Aid
Goal SettingOSHA Safety
Financial Literacy

The total cost of the Groundwork workforce development program is $1,028,751. $853,456 (83%) of this program is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor–Employment and Training Administration grant. $175,295 (17%) of this program is funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission—Sprouting Farms grant. The program receives $0 (0%) in non-federal funding. The Groundwork workforce development program is fully funded (100%) by federal grants.

Warehouse Training Associate – Duffield, va

Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Groundwork workforce development program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with wraparound services that support personal and career growth. The program provides opportunities for job shadowing and internships, plus advanced education through college coursework or certifications, as well as training on essential skills, financial literacy, career development, and more.                                                                  

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day work responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Loading and unloading products from trailers and the coolers
  • Shrink wrapping loaded pallets to be shipped
  • Fulfilling Practically Perfect, Food Box orders, and Value Added
  • Distributing Food Boxes to individuals and organizations (customer service)
  • Labeling pallets and boxes for accurate distribution
  • Warehouse cleaning and light maintenance 
  • Helping track all incoming and outgoing inventory
  • Assisting herb producers with unloading, checking in and processing their roots and herbs
  • Helping with the cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, drying racks and all herb processing and drying areas
  • Checking on progress of drying herbs throughout process and taking actions as necessary
  • Maintaining equipment as needed. 
  • Assist with social enterprises as needed.

Associates will earn their Forklift Safety certification and OSHA 10-Hour Safety certification. 

Training on food safety and strict adherence to all food safety rules is required.

All Warehouse Associates must wash their hands before handling products, must wear gloves while handling products, must have hair pulled completely back away from face and off the shoulders or wear a hat while packing products.

The total cost of the Groundwork workforce development program is $1,028,751. $853,456 (83%) of this program is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor–Employment and Training Administration grant. $175,295 (17%) of this program is funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission—Sprouting Farms grant. The program receives $0 (0%) in non-federal funding. The Groundwork workforce development program is fully funded (100%) by federal grants.

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