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Download the Karp Report by clicking on the link below, or on the image to the left.
Letter from the Board
Grow L+A invites you to take a few minutes and review the Executive Summary of the Karp Resources Report. The summary provides highlights which support the findings of Karp Resources. The report and executive summary are available for viewing on our website.
Grow L+A is focused on the long-term viability of local food economy and, in particular, the important role of Bates Mill No.5 as a hub in facilitating that viability. The Board of Directors is committed to utilizing the results of this report as a tool and guide in assisting the community to move forward in a more sustainable and healthy urban landscape.
The report illustrates a comprehensive baseline of data and information, supporting the potential for a strong local food economy in the region. Equally important, it also recognizes the considerable enthusiasm among people and organizations in Lewiston and Auburn for growing a local food economy. In addition to the wealth of information, overall positive outlook and success for local foods in Lewiston and Auburn, the report also assists Grow L+A in better understanding their role in moving forward and identifying some key issues. We believe this will provide energy and support for engaging the larger community in the success of not only recognizing Bates Mill No. 5 as an economic asset, but also ensuring success for the broader local food economy.
We acknowledge that our understanding of a ‘Food Hub’ has changed since the completion of the report. A ‘Food Hub’ is a regional business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products – primarily from local and regional producers – to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand. The role of Grow L+A, utilizing this definition, is focused on supporting agriculture and food entrepreneurs, while promoting better economic development for food businesses.
In other words, we want to create a local food economy, using Bates Mill No. 5 as a support nucleus, to cultivate a vibrant urban landscape and assist the communities of Lewiston and Auburn in becoming more sustainable.
Some other key issues raised by the Karp Resources Report:
- Focus on regional producers and supply chains, who bring food from the producer to the consumer. Supply, demand, and price still matter.
- Integrate our work with that of other regional food initiatives and activities. There are many activities taking place in the region which are building a stronger agriculture economy. We should leverage these activities in support of achieving our goals with Bates Mill No. 5.
- Focus on broader economic development support for local food businesses and entrepreneurs, serving as a catalyst and champion of Bates Mill No. 5 as an asset that creates space for entrepreneurs and businesses to launch.
- Partner! Collaborate! Advocate!
In conclusion, the Karp Resources Report helped Grow L+A realize that a more robust community engagement process needs to take place in order to ensure that all the hard work, up to this point, does not dissipate. The Karp Resources Report, key stakeholder meetings and a public forum scheduled during the month of September, 2015 will support our initial goal in ensuring partnerships with local businesses and community members. We are also developing a long term community engagement process that supports the citizens of Lewiston and Auburn in having a voice in the issue of access to good, healthy, affordable food in the future.
By engaging the community in support of building a local food economy, we can realize that future.
Respectfully,
Grow L+A – Board of Directors-
Peter Flanders | President
Auburn
Shanna Cox | Vice President
Lewiston
Brett Bisesti | Treasurer
Lewiston
Gisele Guerrette | Secretary
Auburn