Rural Grocery Initiative Technical Assistance

rgi@ksu.edu

The Rural Grocery Initiative offers technical assistance to help establish and sustain independently-owned grocery stores in rural communities.

The Initiative works to provide evidence-based information for rural grocery questions, identify and respond to the significant challenges that rural grocery stores face, highlight and promote sustainable models of rural grocery operation, and strengthen access to healthy foods in rural areas.

Technical assistance categories include:

• General program inquiry
• Business development
• Discount retailers
• Distribution
• Funding
• Grocery operations
• Infrastructure
• The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (KHFI) process
• Local Food
• Marketing
• Media
• Nutrition incentives such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)
• Ownership models
• Partnerships
• Policy
• Technology
• Transition Planning
• Food testing (nutritional, labeling, process authority)
• Value-Added Product Development/Food Processing

Eligible participants are independently-owned rural grocery stores, rural communities, and partners.

This is a technical assistance opportunity offered at no cost.

Complete the technical assistance form on the program website.