Moore County (NC) Partners in Sandhills AGInnovation Center

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. - June 7, 2016 - PRLog -- Moore County (NC), home of Pinehurst, has partnered in a venture with neighboring Richmond County to construct the Sandhills AGInnovation Center in Ellerbe, NC.  The Golden LEAF Foundation has awarded $475,000 to Richmond County for construction.  The Center will serve farmers in both Richmond and Moore Counties as well as the Sandhills region of central North Carolina.

"We welcome the Sandhills AGInnovation Center to Richmond County and look forward to the construction of the new facility," said Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette.  "The center will open up new markets for our local farmers by providing services in aggregation, marketing, transportation, processing and equipment lending.   We are very committed to helping our farmers and this shows our commitment to the agriculture community."

The Sandhills AGInnovation Center will be owned by the Richmond County Board of Commissioners and will provide much needed services to the economically important agricultural industry in the Sandhills region. The development of the Center is supported by a feasibility study funded by Moore County government which documents the area's strong commitment and support for the agricultural industry.  The purpose of this venture is to provide an economic development support structure for farm and food entrepreneurs in the region. This facility will provide a space for training, rental cooler and freezer facilities, processing equipment, shared-use farm equipment and value-added kitchen equipment at a fair market price to producer groups and individuals.

"Golden LEAF is pleased to support this collaborative effort to increase markets and opportunities for local farmers," said Dan Gerlach, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation.  "We look forward to seeing the results of this investment."

The Sandhills AGInnovation Center will be an economic catalyst for farmers, food entrepreneurs, suppliers and culinary tourists.  Richmond farmers who use the services in the center benefit from proximity to Moore County restaurants, resorts and consumers. The consumers in the region benefit from expanded access to a greater variety of locally produced foods. With the completion of this facility, farm and food entrepreneurs will have a central location for processing, storage, and packing to greatly add value to their products.

"I appreciate that our county commissioners are eager to make an investment in this facility that will provide unique services for our producers.  Richmond County Extension is planning to work with the Center in providing producers with assistance in GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), food safety, and production techniques. Having the county own the food hub and leasing services to regional producers is a unique model and I think will be a very successful one", said Susan Kelly, Richmond County Extension Director.

"Agriculture is a vital segment of Moore County's economy as well, and this facility will generate opportunities to sustain and enhance the long-term economic viability of regional agriculture," said Pat Corso, Executive Director of Moore County Partners in Progress.

"The facility is also an investment in community health and well-being because of the expanded markets for fresh local foods.  The expanded markets in turn will help increase the profitability of farming which will encourage our youth to consider farming as a viable livelihood.  And that is a direct investment in the future of agriculture in the Sandhills region."

Other partners who helped make this announcement possible are Richmond County Economic Development, Richmond County Extension, Moore County Government, Moore County Partners in Progress, Golden LEAF Foundation, and the Sandhills agricultural community.

Moore County Partners in Progress is the nonprofit economic development corporation serving all of Moore County, NC which includes Pinehurst, the Home of American Golf.  Our mission is to increase local economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for our citizens.  We achieve this through the recruitment of new industries, supporting the retention and expansion efforts of existing industries, nurturing entrepreneurial development, and enhancing economic opportunities for the agricultural community. For more information, visit http://www.moorebusiness.org and http://www.moorealive.com.