Regenerative Capital

Rural Community Grocer Renovations

by Economic Development Greater East
Rural Community Grocer Renovations

Mountain Farm Community Grocery will sell locally-grown produce and foods to enhance local food security and keep food dollars in the community.

Project Summary
  • Location: Kimball, WV
  • Products: Bees Events Fruit & Vegetable Livestock Poultry
  • Loan Amount: $87,559
  • Loan Term: 6 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 1 month after disbursement
Share

Overview

Economic Development Greater East (EDGE) is a volunteer-led nonprofit in McDowell County, West Virginia working to uplift the socio-economic circumstances for one of the poorest communities in the state. EDGE is aiming to open a community grocery store in Kimball, WV--a high-traffic section of Route 52--which has long been in need of greater access to fresh and healthy foods. The new market, Mountain Farm Community Grocery, will sell items grown and produced by local farmers and artisans, enhancing food security for residents, increasing community interest in sustainable agriculture, and bolstering regional economies. Profits from the grocery store will be invested back into the community through enrichment programs including job training, farming classes, and agricultural education to help people learn the skills needed to grow their own food and become more self-sustaining.


Use of Funds

EDGE has obtained a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to renovate a building to house Mountain Farm Community Grocery. Funds are expected to be reimbursed by USDA within one month of submitting invoices, and will be used to complete building renovations necessary to open the grocery store to the community.

Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

EDGE increases capacity for sustainable agriculture by supporting the growth of local farmers and food producers through the following:

  • Partner farms employ methods that rehabilitate the land, such as utilizing high tunnels for erosion control, farming without the use of synthetic chemicals, and creating pollinator-friendly habitats that are ideal for beekeeping.

  • Partner farms have converted logged and abandoned land into healthy and productive systems, including: nutrient-dense vegetable farms, high tunnel production, an apiary, pasture-raised livestock and poultry operations.

  • Mountain Farm Community Grocery prioritizes partnering with small-scale regional food producers and purchasing from BIPOC, veteran, and other underrepresented farmers.

  • EDGE is creating access to locally-sourced, nutrient-dense foods in the communities in which they are grown or produced, through affordable pricing and purchase by EBT.
Borrower Loan Agreement Download

Join the Steward Newsletter

Get project announcements, farmer introductions, company updates, and more by subscribing to the Steward newsletter. Join our growing community of people who are making regenerative agriculture the foundation of our future.

Meet the Farmers

Join a growing community of sustainably-minded lenders reaping the rewards from responsible farming