January 23, 2015;
RCBI competition to recognize best in agricultural innovation…
Agricultural innovators across West Virginia will compete for a business assistance package valued in excess of $10,000 as part of a contest sponsored by the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI).
The West Virginia Vanguard Agriculture Competition will honor innovation and ingenuity in agriculture, recognizing an entrepreneur whose idea has the greatest potential to solve logistical challenges in the local food supply chain.
The winner will receive assistance with:
· Product design and development
· Logo creation and marketing
· Patent, trademark and copyright applications
· Business development planning
· Funding opportunities
· Business incubator space
West Virginia residents – including students of all ages – and out-of-state residents enrolled in West Virginia colleges and universities are eligible to compete. Innovators may apply online at www.rcbi.org/wvvanguardag.
Entries must be received by 5 p.m. February 20. The winner will be announced February 27 at the 2015 West Virginia Small Farms Conference in Charleston.
“The entrepreneurs we assist day in and day out at our Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers clearly demonstrate there is no shortage of innovation in West Virginia,” said Charlotte Weber, RCBI Director & CEO. “This competition is a way to reward home-grown innovation in our agricultural sector as we work together to build a more efficient and sustainable food supply chain.”
The contest is part of RCBI’s Agricultural Innovations, an initiative to improve opportunities for West Virginia’s farming and agricultural economy. The initiative supports and enhances a vibrant local foods system by promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. RCBI also helps food producers, distributors and buyers expand their reach and influence through advanced manufacturing practices and product development.
The Agricultural Innovations initiative is funded by a grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and supported by Unlimited Future Inc. and The Wild Ramp.
For more information, contact RCBI at 800.469.7224.
Becky Calwell
Public Information Specialist
Robert C. Byrd Institute
1050 Fourth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
304.781.1690
