WE PROPOSE A SEED PROJECT TO ASSEMBLE A TEAM, COLLECT PILOT DATA, AND COMPOSE A FULL PROPOSAL WHICH WILL INCLUDE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH COMPONENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD ON ONGOING COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MAYAGUEZ, AND WILL ADD THE EXPERTISE OF AND BUILD ON EXISTING WORK OF CLARK UNIVERSITY. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL OF ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY AND FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON WORKFORCE AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS SEED GRANT PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PLAN TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS IN PUERTO RICO AND NEW ENGLAND TO CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY AND FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON WORKFORCE AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT. THE SEED FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONVENE A PROJECT ADVISORY TEAM IN EACH REGION TO GUIDE AND VET RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PLAN DEVELOPMENT; DOCUMENT THE CURRENT ASSETS, STATE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS AROUND WORKFORCE AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS (ON BOTH THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND SIDE); THEN CRAFT A RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PLAN WHICH WILL FILL KNOWLEDGE GAPS, LEVERAGE ASSETS, AND DEVELOP OUTREACH PROGRAMMING TO ASSIST PRODUCERS AND INSTITUTIONS.THIS PROJECT ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM PRIORITY AREA: EXAMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR VARIOUS CONSTELLATIONS OF BUSINESS/INDUSTRY INVESTMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF LABOR SUPPLY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESOURCES, AND CULTURAL RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE HUMAN CAPITAL OF THE LABOR SUPPLY TO PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.