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Agribusiness Incubator Program - University of Hawaii > Going AIP Blog
August 06
End of blog
by  Steven ChiangNo presence information  on 8/6/2012 10:08 PM

Instead of blogging here, checkout http://www.facebook.com/aiphawaii ​


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September 10
Matching Marketing Funds Program FY2012
by  Jacqueline MeyerNo presence information  on 9/10/2011 5:58 PM

The Matching Marketing Funds Program FY2012 (MMFP12) requests proposals from appropriate agencies, firms, individuals, associations and producers within the State for promotion of local agricultural products to develop new or expanded markets. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) announces $75,000 in program funds for projects to enhance the competiveness of local agriculture products and their industries including, but not limited to, agritourism, aquaponics, dairy, eggs, fish (marine or freshwater), livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, swine, poultry), organic, specialty crops, and value-added (manufactured, processed). The MMFP12 will reimburse qualified, approved budget items with a 50% match of the applicable expense to a maximum of $15,000 per project.

The closing date and time for receipt of proposals under this Announcement of Request for Proposals (RFP) is 4:30 pm on October 6, 2011. See the PDF in our Funding Opportunities folder.

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September 06
Agriculture Transportation Reimbursement Program Ends Sept. 9
by  Jacqueline MeyerNo presence information  on 9/6/2011 10:24 AM
Agriculture producers exporting crops have until Friday, September 9, to apply for reimbursements covering transportation costs. The Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (RTCP) assists farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Island, American Samoa, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau.
 
For more information on the new RTCP program, contact your local FSA county office, www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact Henry Fong (808) 441-2704.
 
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August 01
Funding Opportunities
by  Jacqueline MeyerNo presence information  on 8/1/2011 12:03 PM
New Funding Opportunities are uploaded in our Public Documents! Bookmark our page to check back frequently for new opportunities - we'll be uploading them here to save room in our AIP newsletters.
 
Don't get our newsletter and want to? Email us at: agincubator@ctahr.hawaii.edu
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July 27
Agritourism
by  Jacqueline MeyerNo presence information  on 7/27/2011 12:40 PM
Are you thinking about expanding your farm or agricultural business into agritourism? Offering tours of your farm is a great way to boost business. But it's important to develop a marketing plan, make sure your farm and staff is prepared for tours, and to properly and successfully advertise (online is a greay way to advertise!) this new venture.
 
Other good resources and ways to advertise or prepare for agritours:
 
 
 
As always, feel free to contact us!
 
And don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook - another great way to advertise and get the word out!
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July 12
2011 Metrics
by  Jacqueline MeyerNo presence information  on 7/12/2011 1:26 PM

Below are our 2011 and 6-year average metrics. This past year the average agribusiness receiving consulting services from AIP showed improvement in all conditions except the average change in number of employees. Over the past 6 years, however, there has been improvement in all key conditions.

Metric

FY2011

Average AIP metrics over 6 years

Average change in annual revenue:

+27%

+44%

Average change in annual net income:

+471%

+344%

Average change in acres in production:

+16%

+53%

Average change in number of employees:

-7%

+29%

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March 15
Facebook page
by  Steven ChiangNo presence information  on 3/15/2011 10:49 AM
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November 04
Metrics and Current Activities
by  Steven ChiangNo presence information  on 11/4/2010 8:00 PM

 

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Due to our involvement with the State's Bioenergy Master Plan and our current involvement with CTAHR's Sustainable Renewable Energy Program, we have gained experience in agribusiness involving energy crops.

 

We are also currently trying to develop a plan to create an Incubator Farm, something we long thought would be invaluable to helping startup/prospective agribusinesses get hands-on experience and establish markets.  If we are successful in getting the financial/land support for this, the Incubator Farm would allow us to more closely tie in our agribusiness consulting with the production expertise of CTAHR.

 

 

METRICS

We just completed collecting metrics for the past year.  In this period, the average agribusiness receiving consulting services from AIP showed improvement in the following key conditions:

 

  

 

Metric

 

 

FY2010

Average AIP metrics over 5 years

Average change in annual revenue:

+36%

+47%

Average change in annual net income:

+154%

+319%

Average change in acres in production:

+52%

+63%

Average change in number of employees:

+60%

+36%

 

 

OTHER (from our report to USDA/NIFA)

Outputs (Products & Services)

Provided individualized agribusiness consulting services for 35 clients including development of business plans, marketing plans, strategic plans, marketing material, websites, feasibility plans, and performance of project management and financial analysis. 

Provided Grant Management for the Agribusiness, Education, and Training Project (AETI) Consortium, including facilitation of communication, issue resolution, reporting, proposal and budget creation, and website.

 

Selected client services delivered and counts for this period:

·         General business consulting: 23

·         Strategic Plans: 11

·         Business Plans: 9

·         Cost of Production: 7

·         Marketing Plans/Market analysis: 4

·         Grant proposal development: 4

·         Website development: 3

·         Project management: 3

·         Accounting system assistance/implementation: 2

·         Marketing collateral: 2

·         Feasibility studies: 2

·         Financial analysis: 1

·         Presentations:

o   Hawaii State Bioenergy Master Plan

o   Vetiver Field Day

o   CTAHR Extension Services

·         Community projects/Education: 

o   Kukui Project (promoting sustainable agriculture)

o   Ka’u coffee workshop

·         Studies: 2

o   Feasibility of _____ Photovoltaic Project for the ____

o   Feasibility of Value-Added Product Expansion at _____

 

 Outcomes

·         Improved average client business performance (see Metrics above):

·         Native Hawaiians assisted:  36

·         Other minorities assisted:  43

·         New businesses started:  10

·         New products introduced: 12

·         Selected specific outcomes:

o   Facilitated investment decision to continue largest organic pineapple operation in Hawaii.

o   Facilitated takeover decision for largest pineapple operation in Hawaii, saving 71 agricultural jobs.

 

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May 15
Quick update - Hawaii Agribusiness Guidebook available
by  Steven ChiangNo presence information  on 5/15/2010 9:19 PM
In 2009 we helped create the Hawaii Agribusiness Guidebook for the O'ahu Resource Conservation & Development office.  Although the guidebook is available from their site, we thought we would make it available here for your convenience.
 
It is a guidebook that introduces you to a plethora of agribusiness topics.  Check it out, I'm sure you will find many topics useful to your business.
 
Click below:
 
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November 12
Annual metrics are in
by  Steven ChiangNo presence information  on 11/12/2009 7:49 PM

Our program is funded by a grant from USDA/NIFA (formerly CSREES). As a recipient of the grant, we are required to submit annual progress reports on our activities and impacts. Collecting and tracking this kind of data is also invaluable for our own evaluation of how we are doing, what we can do better, etc.

 

Our clients agree at the onset of our relationship to supply us with data when we request it. Not all do, but hopefully we have enough responses to form valid measurements.

 

This year their reported financial metrics were less impressive than last year, and I suspect next year's may be even worse. The economic downturn has not ignored agriculture it seems. We are still pleased with the results, especially given the recent environment:

 

In this period, the average agribusiness receiving consulting services from AIP showed improvement in the following key conditions:

 

 

 

Metric

 

 

FY2009

Average AIP metrics over 4 years

Average change in annual revenue:

+5%

+50%

Average change in annual net income:

+493%

+360%

Average change in acres in production:

+49%

+66%

Average change in number of employees:

+71%

+31%

 

 

Other notable metrics:

•                    Provided consulting services to 34 agribusinesses or agribusiness-supporting organizations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

•                    Served 9 agribusinesses with Native Hawaiian owners or employees.

•                    Provided 6 agribusiness training multi-day workshops for 54 students.

•                    7 new agribusinesses were started

•                    17 new value-added agriculture products were introduced

•                    Co-authored, “Hawaii Agribusiness Guidebook”

•                    Authored, “Hawaii Bioenergy Master Plan – Business Partnering”

•                    Authored, “Cost of Production and Market Opportunity for Vetiver Grass”

•                    Authored, “Organic Produce Interisland Distribution System Improvement”

•                    Authored, “Organic Food Center Plan”

 

 

We also use surveymonkey.com to enable collection of anonymous responses to qualitative questions about our service. We invite clients to go online and respond.

 

Average response (% of maximum score)

 

Survey Question

82.4%

AIP consultants were responsive to my inquiries and available when needed

92.4%

AIP consultants seemed genuinely interested in the success of my business

78.0%

I understand the AIP services and believe they make sense for my business

82.6%

My business is better off than it would have been had I not worked with AIP

74.2%

After working with AIP, I have more knowledge that will help to make my business more successful in the future

83.8%

I am satisfied with the business consulting services I received from AIP

87.6%

I would recommend AIP to other agribusinesses

 

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