Is Community Investing for You?

You support local farms, but have you ever thought you’d like to invest in local farms and food businesses?

As tariffs and funding cuts and freezes for federal agriculture programs leave producers uncertain about the future and threaten the stability of our food system, a local investment fund is seeking new community investments to meet the growing demand for capital from farm and food businesses.

Since 2015, the Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund (PVGrows) has been there for farmers and local food businesses, providing accessible financing for expenses like equipment upgrades, expansions into retail operations, and emergency weather responses. Investments are different from philanthropic funds, as the money is paid back by borrowers and lent to new businesses. Therefore, while the fund currently has a balance of $2.7 million, more than $6 million has been lent to borrowers to date, meaning investors’ capital has gone twice as far. Meanwhile, demand from farmers has been outstripping the availability of funds, and the goal of this new investor drive is to reach the $5 million mark. Lean how, for as little as $500, you can invest in Massachusetts farms!