By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:36:44 +0000

I hope that the BOC has the good judgment to retain the very small payment of $15,000 to FSEP. This organization was founded as part of the local food movement and is part of a 5-county consortium (but is housed here). Its stipend is paid from Act 88 funds (which are supposed to be about agriculture and then also economic development). Therefore these funds cannot be used for human services or any of the other threatened services of the county. (I assume that SPARK is not threatened.)

FSEP is not really about feeding the needy. It is about building a viable food system in this locality. That means encouraging producers (farmers) and then getting the food to consumers. They have especially helped start-up agricultural businesses. They provide a knowledge and resource base that would not otherwise be available (MSU Extension has gone through many cuts and there are few agents actually based in Washtenaw County now.)

It is run by two volunteer boards and its very energetic executive director, Jennifer Fike. All are dedicated to seeing that we continue to have a diverse local food base and to supporting growth of a local agricultural industry. Recent stories elsewhere have pointed out the value and importance of the agricultural sector in Michigan to our economy.

It seems a bargain.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:30:42 +0000

“Ping then objected to increased funding for Ann Arbor SPARK – from $200,000 to $230,000.”

So was Ping the only one in the room to voice her concerns about funding to SPARK? If so, good for her. And why were Democrats silent?

Comments on: County Weighs Funding for Nonprofits, Dues

By: Vivienne Armentrout

By: Alan Goldsmith