In 2013 ASAP, Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) partnered with the Centralina Council of Governments and the Catawba Regional Council of Governments to support CONNECT Our Future, a three-year initiative funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program. The CONNECT Our Future project aims to promote regional economic development, including the local and regional food system, in order to grow jobs, strengthen the economy, and improve quality of life in the Charlotte region. See more at: http://connectourfuture.org/whatisconnect/#sthash.DrFNVGqS.dpuf
The reports provided here are products of this project and are being used to inform the food systems development work of the CONNECT Our Future project. The Food Systems Assessment Report summarizes major findings from the assessment research and discusses key opportunities and actions for the region based on these findings. The action plan is an action guide for the CONNECT Our Future communities. It is intended to describe a process of community engagement for use by municipal and county officials seeking to increase wealth and strengthen community development by building and supporting local and regional food systems. The Executive Summary provides a brief overview of the entire project and summarizes major findings.