Finger Lakes food business incubation program to expand in 2020

ITHACA, N.Y. — The food business incubation program (FoodBIP), a technical-support program for the Finger Lakes food and beverage manufacturing sector, will expand its coverage area in 2020.

FoodBIP is a partnership of Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network (FLRPnet) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, according to the website foodbip.org.

FLRPnet — formerly known as TCAD Foundation — is a nonprofit organization that Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD) created in 2013 to “extend the capacity and reach” of economic-development efforts in the Finger Lakes region, per the TCAD website.

FoodBIP launched in December 2018, serving four counties: Tompkins, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben.

The expanded region will add Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, and Yates counties, FLRPnet said in a Tuesday news release.

FLRPnet and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County on Tuesday announced grant funding to support the expansion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a rural business development grant of more than $86,000 that will provide industry-specific technical support to the expanded region. The funding supports the program through 2020.

FoodBIP is developing the food sector’s “entrepreneurial ecosystem” in the rural Finger Lakes area through technical assistance, “connecting local food manufacturers to wholesale markets, and coordinating the food-sector value chain,” per the release.

“Following the launch of FoodBIP in December of 2018, we are pleased to expand to serve this large rural region in the heart of the Finger Lakes” Dan Fessenden, chair of the Finger Lakes Regional Prosperity Network, said. “FoodBIP is stimulating the growth of the Finger Lakes region’s nascent local-foods industry. We are excited to work with farm-based processors and other food manufacturers. These food and beverage entrepreneurs are eager for additional support to help them connect to their markets and grow jobs in the region.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com