The City of Tempe’s Cooperative Food Business Development Program provides the opportunity for Tempe residents to learn how to develop cooperative food businesses, connect to the local food system, and have access to local markets. The Local Food Economy Coordinator will be responsible for recruiting, coordinating and mentoring participants of the program, developing and managing a local procurement process for food businesses, organizing pop-up farmers markets, and managing access to the community kitchen.

Essential Job Functions:
Cooperative Food Business Development Program Recruitment
o Recruit participants by promoting through city networks, giving presentations, tabling, and organizing information events

Cooperative Food Business Development and Implementation
o Assist consultants to organize classes and attend all classes
o Provide business coaching and mentoring to program participants
o Support participants during the program by sending reminders about upcoming meetings, helping with assignments, and talking with participants about their post-program goals.
o Coordinate and facilitate regular meetings with the project team
o Coordinate access to community kitchen for program participants

Farmers Market Pop-ups
o Develop standard operating procedures for market
o Create promotion plan, site map, and proposed vendor list
o Work with regulatory agencies to ensure market has appropriate license and permits
o Coordinate event logistics with city departments, participating vendors, volunteers and staff
o Manage the market on day-of event

Local Sourcing
o Develop a cooperative sourcing pilot initiative between program participants & local farmers/food distributors to create economies of scale through collaborative purchasing
o Identify potential markets for locally grown food and locally made food products. Develop relationships with decision makers at these markets to advocate and encourage purchasing of food products developed by program participants.

Grant Management
o Develop and implement strategies to track impact of programs (business coaching, local sourcing, cooperative development)
o Manage budget and reporting requirements as outlined in the grant agreement