Information to get users started in the Networking section

Welcome to the Local Food Systems Networking section!

The Networking section contains the social networking tools to help site users communicate and identify shared interests. The Networking section exists to help fledgling or expanding businesses and their supporters, particularly those in relatively close proximity, connect with each other to mutual benefit. Here you will find opportunities to connect with other individuals who are interested in starting new businesses, supporting existing businesses, and discussing ideas about local foods. The Networking section is focused on three main types of content:



Collaborative Business Networks (CBN) are designed for Local Food Systems users to collaborate, focus on, and achieve a specific, well defined goal. Primarily CBNs are used to develop business ecosystems, a collaborative network of entrepreneurs, existing businesses, business supporters, and customers that seek to create new or expand existing supply chains. However, CBNs have also be used for tasks such as developing inter-collegiate programs and as a vehicle for new community groups to organize around a shared vision. CBNs give site users a set of tools (posts, private messages, events, to do items, and folders) that allow them to organize and assign tasks, set deadlines, disseminate information, and share important files. CBNs can be either Public (available for everyone on the Local Food Systems website to see) or Private (view-able only by the members of the group).

Create A Collaborative Business Network



Common Interest Groups (CIG) allow you to discuss topics of interest with other Local Food Systems users. Less focused than Collaborative Business Networks, CIGs are designed to act as repositories of knowledge, to stimulate thought, and introduce people to new topics with which they are not familiar. Users with knowledge in topic areas are encouraged to share their experiences, post links to relevant articles, and answer questions from the Local Food Systems community. Tools available to CIGs include posts, events, and folders. These tools allow site users to disseminate information and share important files to other users that share their interests. CIGs can be either Public (available for everyone on the Local Food Systems website to see) or Private (view-able only by the members of the group).

Create A Common Interest Group



Forum Topics are for free flowing discussion on any topic relevant to Local Food Systems. You can start your own topic thread, or comment on an existing topic. All forum posts are public and view-able by all Local Food Systems users.

Create A Forum topic

Collaborative Business NetworksCreate A Collaborative Business Network

CBN Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Midwest Food Innovation Network

To enhance collaboration among Commercial Kitchens, Kitchen Incubators and Food Hubs in Northeast Ohio.

9 years 12 months Brian Gwin Test Request group membership
NEO Packaged Foods And Snacks   9 years 2 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Non-GMO Feed Grains Network

This is the private work space for project members who are associated with one or more of the following groups. 

11 years 4 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
NEO_Breads

Develop a mission statement

9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Small Business Management

A general study of the field of small business focusing on policies,
strategies, organization, operation, and problems associated with

6 years 1 week webadmin Request group membership
 
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV)

This PUBLIC portfolio collaboration space is for companies that are currently in the SUAV sector, companies that would like to join the SUAV sector

9 years 9 months David Spisak Request group membership
Ohio Livestock Product Processors

This portfolio contains an extensive list of licensed meat and dairy processors in Ohio, specifically those from the Northeast region.

6 years 1 week Brian Gwin Request group membership
OARDC Natural Rubber Ecosystem   9 years 3 months Brian Gwin Request group membership
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Food as Economic Development

Build economies using food and ag.

7 years 5 months admintest Request group membership
Resilient Health Network, Inc.

We promote, enrich, and sustain resilient human, community, and environmental health by developing synergistic/cooperative linkages among programs,

4 years 11 months Brett Joseph Request group membership
Common Interest GroupsCreate A Common Interest Group

CIG Dashboard

Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Entrepreneurs in Agriculture

This group will explore diverse and unique attributes of agricultural businesses- seasonality, production modeling, distribution and food safety, a

4 years 12 months Abbe Turner Subscribe to group
Advance Mahoning County Agriculture

Working group to develop business cases within the Agriculture and Biosciences Cluster for Mahoning County

4 years 12 months Elsa Higby Subscribe to group
Cincinnati Local Foods Group

The Cincinnati Local Foods Group is a yahoo group which shares information about local fo

4 years 12 months valereee Subscribe to group
Local Food Technology & Software

Software & Technology are creating new & exciting possibiiities for the local food movement, and will play a significant role in a new, dec

4 years 12 months buckybox Subscribe to group
MASCRI Innovation

Welcome to a network of fruit and vegetable industry members in the Mid-Atlantic Specialty Crop Research Initiative, funded by the USDA Specialty C

4 years 12 months webadmin Subscribe to group
Public - accessible to all site users
Group Name Description Last Updated Creator Subscriptionsort descending
Real Food, Real Local, Real Good Institute

 

4 years 12 months 30milemeal Subscribe to group
Stinner Summit V Project - Youngstown Eats

The Youngstown Eats project focuses on providing healthy meals, locally sourced and ready to eat, to youth in Youngstown who have poor access to go

4 years 12 months Casey Hoy Subscribe to group
Urban and Suburban Agriculture

There is tremendous opportunity within cities and outlying suburbs, to create new economic drivers through food production, and the

4 years 12 months webadmin Subscribe to group
OSASN, Ohio Sustainable Agriculture Students Network

Ohio colleges and universities are currently collaborating on a statewide network of sustainable agriculture education programs.

4 years 11 months Casey Hoy Subscribe to group
Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Managers

Welcome to the Western Pennsylvania Farmers Market Manager Discussion Forum!  This is a place for market managers to connect with one another to sh

4 years 12 months smith_leah Subscribe to group

Forums Dashboard