Annika Gačnik
Hometown:
San Diego, California
Connect: LinkedIn
Annika is excited to work alongside a diverse community of producers and food businesses to strengthen West Michigan’s food processing sector, driving regional economic growth and resilience.
ERC Project
Project Title:
West Michigan Agricultural Technologies & Regional Food Systems Initiative
Host Community or Region:
Michigan
Host Organization:
West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission
Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, behind California, but over the past 30 years as much as 85 percent of fresh locally produced products have been shipped outside of Michigan for further processing due to lack of facilities and infrastructure. Spanning six counties in Western Michigan, this initiative – born out of the 2016 closure of a coal-fired power plant – aims to revitalize former coal communities and transform the state’s agricultural and food processing sector. Fostering triple bottom-line benefits and addressing priority needs in economic development, education, logistics, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, the initiative becomes a catalyst for positive change. The ERC Fellow, working alongside partner organizations, will provide consistent support related to accessing economic development and infrastructure resources from local, state, and federal experts to maximize the potential for growth in these sectors. The fellow, armed with project development, research, and economic data analysis skills, becomes a key player in supporting economic growth, infrastructure development, and logistical enhancements. The aim is a lasting impact on the project's six county footprint in Western Michigan, making it a model for resilient and thriving regional food systems.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
