Board approves submission of $350,000 food-and-fiber planning earmark

The Selectboard voted to submit a congressional earmark request (congressionally directed spending) seeking $350,000 for a planning project to build a regional food-and-fiber hub. The proposal blends prior food-hub elements with new fiber-oriented work intended to improve long-term sustainability of local food businesses and create higher-margin fiber products to cross-subsidize food services.

The presenter summarized the grant elements: a producer-owned chicken-processing feasibility study, a FarmConnect satellite for aggregation and distribution, meal-kit and healthy-cooking education work, and multiple fiber-related prototypes (machine‑knit wool garments and a lanolin-based skin product). He said, “I put together a proposal for a total of 350,000,” and described a required 25% match; he proposed providing much of the match as in-kind planner time. Board members discussed sequencing and whether applying now would preclude later earmark requests; staff advised that separate submissions in different years are not disqualifying.

Board members voted to authorize submission this cycle and to continue refining the scope and match plan. Staff and volunteers will coordinate next steps, and the planning commission will report back on partner commitments and match documentation.