<p> Invitation to Apply: Vendor Launch A project of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association Application Deadline: February 15, 2015</p><p>BACKGROUND: The West Virginia Farmers Market Association (WVFMA) is proud to announce the launch of a new training program directed at farmers who are, or will be, new vendors at respective farmers markets across West Virginia. This innovative program aims to instruct and support beginning farmers market vendors and their markets. Incentives will be provided to the vendors, mentors, and their farmers markets for their participation. This training will be conducted by the WVFMA in coordination with the West Virginia Community Development Hub, the WVU Extension Services, the WV Department of Agriculture, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, and the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition. The goals of this project are to help farmers markets, and their vendors, become more successful by developing educational materials for market vendors, and delivering trainings to a broad audience of current and potential market vendors; producing measurable improvements in vendor sales, confidence, knowledge and awareness. Funding is provided through a federal grant awarded to the WVFMA through the USDA’s Farmer Market Promotion Program (FMPP), as well as additional support from MVB Bank and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. PROJECT ACTIVITIES: Through a competitive application process, 20 new vendor participants will be selected to undergo a 2-day New Vendor Launch “Boot Camp” hosted in April of 2015. Selected participants are required to have an experienced vendor, with 3+ years of farmers market experience, to serve as a mentor throughout the duration of the project. Participants and their mentors will attend the 2-day “Boot Camp” in Charleston, WV, and it will encompass 7 different informational modules geared towards new farmers market vendors. These modules will include, but are not limited to:  Harvest, postharvest handling, produce storage, and display.  Accounting and recordkeeping.  Licensing and food safety requirements.  Managing risk at farmers markets.  Accepting EBT, Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, credit cards, and other alternative currencies.  Options for expansion beyond farmers markets.  Marketing, visual merchandising, customer service, and booth design. After completion of the 2-day “Boot Camp”, participants will be required to submit their sales data to the WVMA’s Project Coordinator on a monthly basis throughout the 2015 and 2016 market seasons. The market mentors will continue to provide support and mentorship to the vendors during this time period Based on the new vendor participant’s compliance with the program’s requirements (including submitting reports of farmers market sales at the times requested), they will be awarded a monetary stipend for their cooperation in the program at the conclusion of both the 2015 and 2016 market seasons. The new vendor participant’s market will receive a free, one-year membership to the West Virginia Farmers Market Association for the year of 2015. The West Virginia Farmers Market Association works to empower West Virginia’s farmer markets and its vendors. Participation in the New Vendor Launch training will provide vendors with the skills necessary to be a successful producer in their respective communities. COMMITMENTS: New Vendor Participants in the New Vendor Launch Program must commit to: Attending a 2-day New Vendor Launch “Boot Camp” in Charleston, WV during April 2015.</p><p>Recording and submitting data to the WVMA’s Project Coordinator on a monthly basis for the 2015 and 2016 market seasons.</p><p>Having an experienced farmers market vendor serve as a mentor.</p><p>Being a role model and resource for other vendors in their respective markets.</p><p>Being open to new ideas, as well as having an enthusiasm for learning. Mentors in the New Vendor Launch Program must commit to:</p><p>Attending a 2-day New Vendor Launch “Boot Camp” in Charleston, WV during April 2015.</p><p>Serving as a trusted resource to Vendor Launch trainee.</p><p>Ensuring that data is collected and submitted monthly by trainee.</p><p>REWARDS In return for successful completion of these project activities, the WVFMA will commit to:</p><p>Coordinating instruction for the Vendor Launch “Boot Camp”.</p><p>Providing reward packages to both vendors and their mentors who complete the requirements of the program.</p><p>Providing the farmers market of the new vendor participant with a free one-year membership to the WVFMA for the year 2015. Promoting the successes of the program participants and their markets through our communications network.</p><p>ELIGIBILITY This program targets participants that are “New Vendors,” meaning vendors that have between zero and two years of farmers market sales experience. [NOTE: Exceptions may be granted but decisions will be made based on the number and quality of applications received.] Participants will be selected on their ability to commit to and manage a project, record data, adhere to deadlines, and an openness and willingness to learn. Interested applicants should complete the application below in Microsoft Word, and email the completed form to [email protected] by February 15, 2015. If not able to submit an application through email, contact Adam Taylor, the West Virginia Farmers Market Association Project Coordinator at (276) 971-6658. Announcement of selected participants will occur no later than March 1, 2015. APPLICATION</p><p>I. New Vendor Participant Contact Information</p><p>Name: </p><p>Phone Number: </p><p>Contact Email: </p><p>Contact Mailing Address:</p><p>Mentor Name: Mentor Phone:</p><p>Mentor Email: </p><p>Mentor Mailing Address: </p><p>II. New Vendor Participant’s Farmers Market Information</p><p>Market Name:</p><p>Market Address: </p><p>Market Website: </p><p>County of Market Location: </p><p>Average Number of Vendors: Year Started: </p><p>Market Season: Starting Month: Ending Month:</p><p>Is this market a member of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association? ___Yes ___No ___Don’t Know</p><p>III. New Vendor Training</p><p>The New Vendor Launch “Boot Camp” will focus on various areas of training that is important to becoming a new vendor at your local farmers market. Please rank the following from 1 to 7. 1 being the training module you feel will be the most beneficial, and 7 being the training module you feel will be the least beneficial.</p><p>___ Harvest, postharvest handling, produce storage, and display. ___Accounting and recordkeeping. ___Licensing and food safety requirements. ___Managing risk at farmers markets. ___Accepting EBT, Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, credit cards, and other alternative currencies. ___Options for expansion beyond farmers markets. ___Marketing, visual merchandising, customer service, and booth design.</p><p>Please explain why the #1 module you selected is the most important to you, and why the #7 module is the least important to you.</p><p>What do you feel are the biggest challenges you will face as a New Vendor?</p><p>If selected as a participant in this program, what steps will you take to ensure you comply with the commitments explained for New Vendor Launch Participants? What personal and professional skills do you possess that you believe will make you a successful farmers market vendor?</p><p>Please explain briefly why you think you should be selected for the New Vendor Launch Program. IV. Certification and Signature</p><p>I certify that the information provided is correct, and my own. I will notify the Project Coordinator of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association if any changes to my application are required. If selected as a participant in the New Vendor Launch Program, I will comply with, and fulfill, all commitments and obligations this program entails from March 2015–September 2016. I understand that failure to fulfill these commitments will result in being dropped from the program, and I will not receive a monetary stipend for my participation. </p><p>Name: Date: </p><p>Signature: ______</p><p>Mentor Name: Date: </p><p>Mentor Signature: ______</p><p>___ Check here if you are unable to confirm a market mentor, and would like to be matched.</p><p>Please email this completed application to the Project Coordinator of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association at [email protected] by February 15, 2014. Electronic signatures may be used or a hard copy of the signature page may be mailed to 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 101, Charleston, WV 25304. If you cannot submit this application by email, please contact Adam Taylor at (276) 971-6658, Project Coordinator WVFMA, to discuss alternative ways of submitting it. Any questions related to this application should be submitted to the same email address and phone number. Announcement of selected participants will occur no later than March 1, 2015. This training will be conducted by the WVFMA in coordination with the West Virginia Community Development Hub, the WVU Extension Services, the WV Department of Agriculture, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (S.A.R.E). Funding is provided through a federal grant awarded to the WVFMA through the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), as well as additional support from MVB Bank and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.</p>