Business Support

March 16 | 12:30-2pm

Join Corinna Bench, co owner of Shared Legacy Farms, a 450 member certified organic CSA in northwest Ohio, and the founder of My Digital Farmer’s Farm Marketing School and the Accelerator Coaching program.
She’ll guide us through the “farm sales funnel framework,” the 8 stages a customer typically goes through as they “graduate” from “unaware you exist” to “superbuyer.” Once the farmer knows what the stages are (and how they “look” in a farm business), they can then build the different mechanisms to make sure their prospects keep moving forward. Learn about this and more in this informative crash course webinar!

March 21
What does it mean to care for our lands and waters in a time of climate change, inequity, and ecological loss? The 2026 Land & Water Conservation Summit (March 21, 2026 at URI) will focus on The Work Ahead: Caring for Our Land and Water and Creating a Just Future, and will explore the complex and necessary acts of conservation and stewardship across Rhode Island’s landscapes and watersheds.

We are thrilled to welcome Keynote Speaker Ethan Tapper, internationally recognized forester and bestselling author of How to Love a Forest, to share his message of resilience, and the bittersweet work of tending a changing world.

The Summit invites participants to reflect on what it means to love and steward our lands and waters in a changing world, even when that means making difficult choices. From sustainable forestry, to farmland access, to streambank restoration, to the critical intersections of land use, to environmental advocacy, this year’s programming will center working lands, farmland access, equity in conservation, forest stewardship, and watershed protection.

Please join us to deepen your understanding, share strategies, and build a more just, resilient future for the places and systems we all depend on. In addition to the keynote, the Summit will feature 30 engaging workshops and panels, policy updates, and plentiful networking opportunities. You will leave the event inspired and engaged, with a commitment to build a more resilient future together.

April 18 | 10am-1pm Join fellow farmers, community gardeners, and SCLT members to launch the 2026 growing season at our urban agriculture hub! The Urban Agriculture Kick Off offers hands-on learning, expert advice, and resources to help you make this your most successful growing season yet.

April 16 | 12-1pm Join Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and Chris Gerlach of the U.S. Apple Association to discuss the future of the apple industry. This webinar will take a deep dive into the prevailing trends and forces shaping the U.S. apple industry. This webinar is free and open to all.

March 17 | 12-1pm Join Farm Credit East, Horizon Farm Credit and Presenter Paul Jannke of Forest Economic Advisors for insights on the 2026 forest products industry. 2025 saw weaker consumption as both housing starts and residential improvement expenditures declined. Interest rates and home prices have finally begun to fall. Will affordability improve enough to reverse the multi-year decline in end-use market activity? Paul will share his forecast for the year ahead. This webinar is free and open to all and will be recorded.

April 13 | 9-11am Startup Foundations for Food Businesses is a monthly introductory webinar designed for aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs who are seriously considering starting a business and want a realistic picture of what that actually involves.

This session goes beyond the idea stage to break down the core components of launching a food business, including the type of business being proposed, the time commitment, RIDOH rules and regulations, legal and financial considerations, market validation, and the operational mindset required to move from concept to execution. It is intentionally structured to help participants assess whether food entrepreneurship is the right path for them

Are you ready to start or expand a business or do you need help with an existing business? Gather your questions and schedule a FREE interactive virtual appointment with the RI Department of State’s Business Services Division.

Appointments are offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning starting at 8:40AM. You will have the chance to sit down with a member of the Business Services staff to ask questions in a private, virtual one-on-one environment. Use your appointment time to ask questions about business registration, professional licensing, and state and local taxes, as well as help maintaining, reinstating, or closing an existing business.

Land & Sea Together is building a network of services and opportunities to reduce stress for fisheries, forestry, and farming (FFF) enterprises, workers, and their families in Rhode Island.

Land & Sea Together is a USDA Grant funded program through RI-DEM and implemented by the Center for Mediation and Collaboration RI. We have pulled together over 25 different organizational partners across the state to build a network of support for the health and well-being of the Farming, Fisheries, and Forestry communities in Rhode Island.
What kind of help can I receive?

A community of a statewide industry leaders ready to help you through a hard time
Confidential support with a RI-based Employee Assistance Agency (EAP).

Consultation for legal, financial, eldercare, childcare, nutrition, career, and other resources
Qualified referrals to the most effective resources in terms of expertise, location, cost and availability
Access to up to 3 free counseling sessions with a RI-based, licensed, masters level clinician (you and your family)

The Carrot Project supports the financial viability of farm and food businesses by providing
information, training, skill-building, and access to capital within a comprehensive support
ecosystem. The Carrot Project's programs serve start-up, early-stage, expanding, and
established farm, food, and fishery businesses—from those accessing land for the first time to
those undergoing a farm transition. Services are free for most clients, with a cost-share for
those above asset or income guidelines.
Their services have a proven record of increasing farm profitability. The Carrot Project provides
personalized, one-on-one advising to help clients meet their business goals and improve long-
term viability. Nervous with numbers or have limited experience? Check out their website,
calendar, and newsletter to increase your financial know-how! Additionally, the organization
offers expert guidance in preparing loan or grant applications, securing loans and loan
guarantees, and identifying the most suitable forms of capital for your needs.