Open Access is open-source, entirely free platform for community development and small business associations, lenders, cities and counties, and local government agencies to help small business entrepreneurs—particularly BIPOC food entrepreneurs—find the full range of technical assistance and lending opportunities near them. It is designed to be lifted, customized, and housed outside of Food & Society at the Aspen Institute, which built and launched it. This open-source demonstration portal includes generic and cross-cutting information ready for easy customization to your organization, city, or region. Please visit these links for easy guides to adapting it to your own needs and location, and feel free to reach out should you have questions about using this platform at foodandsociety@aspeninstitute.org. Visit our landing page to  download the code base and review our user guide to easily implement this portal for your own community.

This resource was created in partnership with the City of New Haven's Food System Policy Division. The Food System Policy Division (FSPD) is a unique department established in New Haven's municipal government in 2016. Operating through both a food justice and sovereignty framework, the two-person team works across three thematic priorities - health equity, socio-economic justice, and environmental justice. To enact change, the FSPD works on food policy at all levels that impact New Haven residents - from changing practices within organizations and institutions, modifying laws and regulations at a city level, advocating for legislation at a state and federal level, to shaping international agendas. Learn more about the Food System Policy Division here.