Enhancing the Local Food System is a robust element of NIRPC’s 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan. With a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation in 2012, NIRPC conducted a Local Food Study in 2012, to assess current conditions and provide recommendations to advance the local food movement in Northwest Indiana.
With the help of regional partners, NIRPC, Purdue Extension, and Valparaiso University Law, held a successful Local Foods Summit in April 2015, to convene and advance the local food movement in Northwest Indiana. As a result, NIRPC helped launch the NWI Food Council in December 2015, whose mission is to build a just, sustainable, and thriving locally-oriented food system for all through networking, education, advocacy, and projects.
The Food Council serves as a regional clearinghouse and connects with other food groups and initiatives across the region. NIRPC provides guidance, technical assistance, supports the process, and links communities with resources and partners.