Kankakee-Iroquois Region Agriculture Accelerator
Capturing Opportunity Through Value-Added Agriculture
Agriculture, as a leading Indiana economic sector, is shaped by world-renowned agribusiness firms, strong trade and membership organizations, productive farmers and soil, thoughtful and skilled leaders in public and private arenas, and innovative entrepreneurs. In 2021-2022 a regional task force convened to develop a regional economic development strategy to leverage the agricultural assets in the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission’s region in Northwest Indiana.
The Task Force’s goal in developing the Regional Ag Strategy was to identify the ag assets (raw materials) and resources that would help leaders to develop the policies, infrastructure, sites, and support needed to create long-term improvements in their rural economies.
The Kankakee Iroquois Regional Ag Strategy is a change in economic development philosophy and this work is the beginning of an ongoing and ever-evolving process in and for the Region.
THE REGION
The agricultural region is comprised of eight primarily rural counties in northwestern Indiana:
FOUR KEY STRATEGIES
Analysis of current data and trends within the existing businesses was key to selecting prime targets for the KIRPC Ag Region. The regional team initiated a strong community BR&E program to tap into existing businesses as key “barometers” of the target industry clusters’ economic health.
The process was intentionally focused on identifying gaps in the supply chain and regional leakages for the purpose of understanding and proactively responding to the threats limiting growth and, sometimes, even survival in today’s economic climate.
Through the data analysis and company interviews, the Task Force identified four key strategies.
REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS
Local producers are interested in building a regional food system that will allow them to connect more efficiently with consumers.
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
Significant gaps were identified in the meat processing sector, access to cold storage facilities, technical expertise support for entrepreneurs, and lack of facilities for producing small batches of new products.
AG WORKFORCE
There is high demand for CDL drivers, regional meat processing, qualified meat cutters, and access to farm labor in the region.
REGULATORY STREAMLINING
Zoning and permitting processes are often difficult to navigate. The Region is focusing on a coordinated approach to the process, in addition to promoting a Right-to-Farm policy in all eight counties.