Farm Development Centers are collaborative farming spaces for new and beginning farmers to experience farming without significant investments in land or equipment. The farmers lease land and share farm infrastructure while developing personal farm businesses and building equity. This model provides opportunities to learn from each other, market cooperatively, participate in community workshops and begin a farming business with limited risk. These centers help remove critical barriers to aspiring farmers like access to land, resources, equipment, and education. 

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The Women-In-Agriculture (WIA) Farm Development Center supports women who are beginning a farming business, provides resources to become economically independent farm business owners, and helps to reduce barriers in starting a successful farm business.  

The WIA Farm Development Center is aligned with the Community Health Needs Assessment for Genesee County and the City of Flint. It was developed by local health service providers who prioritized Nutrition and Diet as focus areas for local program implementation.
The WIA Farm Development Center fits the Genesys strategic objective where keeping people healthy is just as important as treating them when they are sick.  Healthy food access helps to accomplish that goal. The WIA Farm Development Center serves as an economic development opportunity to expand the capacity of women to be a part of the local economy.

Regional Partners:                                             

• Genesys Health System (GHS)

• MSU Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS)

• Michigan State University Extension (MSUE)

• MSU Student Organic Farm

• Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF)

• ROWE Professional Services Company

• USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Michigan

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Women in Ag Farm Harvest Gathering