The WHY: Heartland Food Business Coalition
We are a practitioner network for investment, collaboration, and regional impact across the Heartland — Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas
February 24: Missouri Local Farm & Food Advocacy Day
Family farmers, local food businesses, and community partners from across Missouri will join together Tuesday, February, 24, 2026, at the state capitol in Jefferson City. Missouri Local Farm and Food Advocacy Day is free and open to all interested in keeping family farmers on the land and putting good food on Missouri tables.
How to build out a regional food system … Heartland Coalition is on it
Part of the difficulty in building up more regional food supply chains is related to the essential work of connecting farmers to wholesale buyers who need large quantities of produce. The Heartland Food Business Coalition is the ongoing effort of partners from five states to do that and more.
Cash flow help for Business Builder grantees
To help Business Builder awardees with upfront costs, the Heartland Center has partnered with three lenders in the region that will offer “bridge loans” to cover out-of-pocket expenses that the grant reimburses. A training on Sept 3 will cover bridge loans and introduce lenders.
Record year for Iowa food hub network
Seven food hubs in the Iowa Hub to Hub Network now work together to provide services that reduce time and costs for producers, get more local food to more markets, and help producers keep more of the final sales dollar.
A business was born, and a thriving one
Lionberry is a case study in what can happen when farm and food entrepreneurs get the right kind of help. And success is often not just for one business.
Iowa’s 1st shared-use kitchen event builds momentum
This event may be remembered as the time when ISU Extension and Kitchen Corridor unleashed a wave of local food innovation across Iowa.
Local Food Study Highlights Need, Opportunity
Nebraska food economy report provides enlightening view of local farm and food business potential.
Business Builder Round 1
The Heartland Regional Food Business Center has selected 89 food and farm enterprises for $3.7 million in Round 1 funding through its USDA Business Builder Subaward grant program. Finalization of grant awards is currently on hold pending U.S. Secretary of Agriculture review of the RFBC program.
Heartland Center Performance Data
The Heartland Regional Food Business Center’s team of 32 business support organizations have been busy since the program’s 2023 start. They have been serving clients across the region and working to build a strong and sustainable network dedicated to building the local and regional food economy.