Peer-Powered Growth

Enables peer-to-peer advisory relationships among members to encourage the exchange of practical business advice, strategies, and insights, fostering a collaborative environment for entrepreneurial growth.

Organizes and hosts networking events such as coffees, panels, and workshops to foster professional relationships and idea exchange among women entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley. Creates environments for members to connect, share experiences, and build supportive business networks.

Operates and maintains a searchable online directory of women-owned businesses and female-identifying business leaders in the Hudson Valley region, with filtering by tags, location, and keyword. The directory is integrated into a member portal for profile management and visibility.

Provides tiered membership levels (Starting Up, In It Together, Dedicated & Driven) tailored to women entrepreneurs at different stages of business growth, including free and paid options. Membership includes access to events, educational content, and digital badges for promotion.

Offers advertising discounts and a $240 credit for qualifying members through a partnership with Chronogram Media, enhancing visibility and marketing opportunities for women-owned businesses.

Offers members free daily co-working access and discounted monthly memberships and conference room rentals at CoWork Kingston, as well as discounted event and space rentals at the River Valley Arts Center and Beehive Collective, with enhanced benefits for higher-tier members.

Offers live and recorded workshops, expert-led sessions, and educational resources to support the personal and professional development of women entrepreneurs. Includes a virtual learning library and video content on topics such as marketing, pricing, branding, and resilience.

Manages and supports a professional network of over 3,000 women leaders and entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley through administrative management, member services, and operational infrastructure.

Administers grant programs for farms and food businesses in New York State on behalf of state, regional, federal, and county agencies, including the Grown & Certified Producer Grant Program, which awards grants of up to 90% of project costs (capped at $50,000) to help producers meet food safety standards.

Served as co-chair of the Agriculture and Foodshed working group for the Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability Plan, engaging agricultural producers and businesses to inform regional sustainability and food systems policy.

Conducted research proposing a carbon credit market model in which nonprofit entities acquire and retire greenhouse gas emission rights, then resell fractional credits to fund farmer assistance programs, and supported research for the Hudson Valley Food Hubs Initiative through stakeholder engagement and project scoping.

Offers the BIPOC Microloan Accelerator, which provides financial literacy training and microloan access to up to 12 minority agribusiness entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley.

Operates a searchable online database and marketing initiative (Hudson Valley Bounty) that connects agricultural producers, culinary businesses, and consumers across the Hudson Valley and beyond, from New York City to the Canadian border, offering free marketing listings for farms, farmers' markets, U-Pick operations, and restaurants.

Partnered with Poughkeepsie City School District and others to secure and administer a USDA Farm to School grant, managing project implementation and supporting the procurement of local produce for school meals.

Operates FEEDHV, a technology-enabled food rescue and gleaning network that rescues and redistributes viable food to nonprofit food assistance programs across seven counties in the Hudson Valley, connecting food donors with food providers and volunteer transporters to reduce food waste and improve food access.

Offers one-on-one business technical assistance (BTA) and comprehensive support services including business planning, strategic planning, marketing, land access, grant writing, financial planning, and market readiness to over 290 agricultural businesses annually through programs such as the Incubator Without Walls and the Farm and Food Funding Accelerator.

Provides low-interest loans ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 and alternative credit instruments to farm and food enterprises in economically disadvantaged communities across the Hudson Valley and Capital regions, including through a $10 million state-funded loan program, to improve capital access for businesses unable to secure financing through traditional institutions.

Publishes articles and educational materials to help farms and food producers improve the financial health and sustainability of their businesses.