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It was just for such a time as this that
ACEnet was launched 35 years ago
. A time when local small businesses would be the backbone of our region and a strong, local food system would exist to help deal with shortages and issues of food safety. And so, here we are on the front lines working to help small businesses find the resources to stay in operation and provide our community with essential products and services. We have been offering our technical support to help these businesses access the Small Business Administration loan programs and to understand all the various relief programs. Likewise, our
Food Ventures Center
has been a consistent, safe, place where local food producers are working their hardest for you and your neighbors to produce food. For example,
Butcher's Bites
beginning their
Fuel the Frontline
initiative which has provided over 300 free meals to those fighting in the COVID trenches, and a new small business,
MADE
, which began providing healthy meals for a local recovery house.
Now, as things begin to reopen in phases, we are engaging in increased food safety trainings with our local and regional restaurants as they begin to open their doors within the new guidelines. We are working hard to deliver trainings through new virtual platforms and even some in-person trainings for people without broadband access. We are helping new clients enter new markets and work on new products, some who are even producing hand sanitizer at ACEnet. And we are starting to look at new ways to use our
Food and Farm Enterprise Center to increase local meat production and take pressure off of our clients as demand for their products increase.
In such a time as this, ACEnet needs your support to increase our reach and services for our small businesses and our local food system, including our farmers, food producers, and restaurants. This is a
critical time to help us as we continue our work to further develop these essential services and products, and increase the level of food safety in the coming weeks and months. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution in support of your community through Paypal,
https://www.paypal.me/acenetathens, to enhance food safety right here in our region. If you'd like to help, but not online, you can also mail a check to ACEnet at 94 Columbus Road, Athens, OH 45701. This moment is the reason ACEnet is still working. This moment is why your support is greatly needed.
For such a time as this.
Sincerely,
Larry G. Fisher
Executive Director
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Sincerely
