**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY AT COBLESKILL (SUNY COBLESKILL), FARM CREDIT EAST, AND WITH GUIDANCE FROM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH EXPERTISE IN EMERGING ISSUES IN FARM AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THE CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CADE) WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A FORWARD-LOOKING 21ST CENTURY ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE DELIVERED USING DIGITAL, DISTANCE LEARNING METHODS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THE PROGRAM WILL BUILD ON CADE AND SUNY COBLESKILL'S SUCCESSFUL HISTORY OF INCUBATING ENTREPRENEURS, AND WILL EXTEND AND ENHANCE CADE'S ONGOING ADVISING AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF AN EMERGING WORKFORCE. THE AUDIENCE FOR THE PROJECT ARE 2-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE STUDENTS, RECENT GRADUATES, AND OTHER POST-SECONDARY ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS. THE WORKFORCE NEED ADDRESSED BY THIS PROJECT IS FOR A CADRE OF ENTREPRENEURS WITH SKILLS SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED TO RESPOND TO RAPIDLY CHANGING TIMES. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE AFRI FARM BILL PRIORITY AREA OF FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.BY THE END OF THE 5 YEAR GRANT PERIOD, WE EXPECT TO: LAUNCH A NEW 21ST CENTURY, MARKET-RESPONSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM AND TRAINING PROGRAM WITH ACADEMIC CREDIT EQUIVALENCIES AND CERTIFICATION; GRADUATE MORE THAN 500 ASSOCIATE DEGREE STUDENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS CENTRAL NY WITH CERTIFICATES RECOGNIZED BY FARM CREDIT EAST AS INDUSTRY READY; SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORT AT LEAST 60 CERTIFIED PARTICIPANTS WHO ACCESS GRANTS AND LOANS TO BUILD OR EXPAND PROFITABLE AGRIBUSINESSES; AND INFLUENCE AT LEAST TWO LENDERS TO ADOPT NEW LENDING APPROACHES BASED ON FUTURE BUSINESS AND MARKET TRENDS.$34,864
· FY2021 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture