Tall rows of corn, cattle grazing along rolling hills, cool mountain streams, and lush forests are all part of the natural allure of Floyd County.  But there’s so much more here than meets the eye.  Beyond produce and livestock, farmers and many others make their living from the land by growing, harvesting, processing, and selling a remarkable range of items.  They produce local beverages, pickled products, and natural items such as herbal remedies and soap.  Trees provide the wood for local artisans to craft wood jewelry and specialty furniture.  In return for the bounty and the livelihoods the land provides, the farmers and artisans of Floyd care for it, ensuring that farmlands and forests will be there for future generations to do the same.
“Farming is not only a major economic force in Floyd County, it also defines the landscape and helps shape the character of those who live and work on the farm,” says Jon Beegle; Chairman of the Floyd County Economic Development Authority.  “Farmers are the ultimate problem-solvers and scientists.  There’s a reason that employers like to hire people off the farm!  But many farmers are determined to stay on the land; using their creative abilities to develop innovative solutions and products to make a living.”
Last year, in an effort to support the vital work being done in the farm, food, and forestry sectors, Floyd County began the “Floyd Grown” project.  The project provides technical assistance, services, and funding to small businesses demonstrating innovative works and a desire to grow.  For some, like Adam Fisher, this meant establishing a website for his Burgeoning Farm.  Adam focuses on perennial agriculture, wild-foraged foods, and specialty fermented items like ramps (a wild-growing onion).  For others, like Thistle Hill Botanticals, it meant upgrading their website to enable e-commerce, as well as advertising on social media to sell their natural soaps and lotions.
“We are really encouraging our growers and makers to have e-commerce websites, so that our products are still available to visitors after they’ve returned home from Floyd,” says Pat Sharkey; Floyd County Tourism Director.
Jason Tueller makes hand-crafted wall-mounted easels from local wood.  For Jason, the Floyd Grown program provided support in creating a professional logo and marketing material.  For others like Buffalo Mountain Kombucha, the funding provided nutritional testing and new labels.  Buffalo Mountain Kombucha makes fermented beverages, some of which feature locally grown basil.
Entrepreneurs participating in Floyd Grown appreciate the prizes that can be won, but some of the value taken away from the experience is intangible.  Leslie Slusher, co-owner of Fields Edge Farm, LLC, was awarded a mini-grant for expansion.  “The grant helped us finish the refrigerated storage areas,” said Leslie, “but more importantly gave us the confidence to hire a full-time manager.  This has put us several years ahead of what I was anticipating our schedule on the farm to be.  We have been able to increase our cultivated acres and production, which helped us develop more markets.”
For many businesses, elevating a profile through publicity and media outreach has been invaluable. WVTF Public Radio in Roanoke aired a series about three Floyd Grown winners.  Greenwood Wizards literally grows wedding rings and other types of rings in trees.  “It was an honor to have the spirit of our work captured by Robbie Harris with WVTF,” said Dawn Shiner, co-owner of the business.  To hear the aired segment, visit http://www.wvtf.org/post/greenwood-wizard-grows-rings-trees.

Floyd Grown also offers a number of resources to help businesses; starting with a map of commercial kitchen spaces available for lease.  The map can be can be viewed by visiting https://goo.gl/FbmiGy.  They provide an Asset Inventory, an Agri-tourism Business Checklist, a Floyd County Agri-tourism brochure, and a study for a potential Floyd Online Storefront that would provide a central place for Floyd County businesses to sell online.  The Floyd Grown project also produced a new Floyd logo that will be used by both the Tourism and Economic Development offices.  For more information on any of these, visit yesfloydva.org.
“Ultimately, we are here to support local business growth, from our newest entrepreneurs to our largest employers.  We try to be as innovative as our businesses in the kinds of support we provide,” said Lydeana Martin; Floyd County Community and Economic Development Director.  “We encourage people to reach out and see if we can help.”
The Floyd County Economic Development Authority offers the Floyd 5 & 10 Small Business Loan program, the Floyd C4 Business Development series for start-ups, the Floyd Growth Wheel program to help established businesses grow, the Floyd Innovation Center with leasable flex space and meeting space, land, and an upcoming shell building to work with larger businesses.  The County is also supporting a new workforce training program called Accessing Community College Education, in which most new high school graduates can receive a tuition-free education for up to two years.

Floyd County Economic
Development Authority
Lydeana Martin • 540-745-9300
lmartin@floydcovaorg • yesfloydva.org.