Some of you may have noticed a new feature of localfoodsystems.org, a business case template and business cluster map (right side of the screen, under “Connect”).  These new tools focus on the real purpose of this site.   It’s about planning and establishing the locally owned business ecosystems at the heart of a local economy.

Last summer, the Fund for Our Economic Future (FFEF) awarded a grant to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) of The Ohio State University (OSU) to establish an Agriculture-Bioscience Industry Cluster (Ag-Bio Cluster) in Northeast Ohio (NEO).  The goal of this cluster is to make a clear and positive impact on the Advance NorthEast Ohio (ANEO) / FFEF Economic Dashboard, namely, increase capability through a skilled workforce and R&D, commercialize technologies, and assu