Proofing Station

Cortney Renton, Executive Director of Proofing Station, is excited to join Jacob Israelow at Dirt Capital Partners and Brandon Welch at Mad Capital in a panel facilitated by Patrick Smith at Soil Upside at the 2024 Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum. If you'll be in Denver on October 9-10, we hope to see you there! #RFSIForum24 #investing #aginvesting #impactinvesting #farming #regenerativeagriculture #foodsystems #naturalcapital #sustainability #agtech

We've been so fortunate to host Gonzalo Tenorio Guzman as our Summer Fellow this year! Gonzalo joined us as an MBA candidate at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, offering key insights to Proofing Station's investment strategy and impact framework. Gonzalo shares some of his reflections in this post. We are sad that his time with us as ended, but are grateful for his contributions. Thank you, Gonzalo! https://lnkd.in/gVgQiYJa

Proofing Station's Executive Director Cortney Renton has been selected as a 2024-2025 Just Economy Institute Fellow! JEI connects, supports and educates financial activists who are shifting the flow of capital and power to solve social and environmental problems. Learn more about this exciting Fellowship below!

We're looking forward to the Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum taking place October 9-10 in Denver! Proofing Station's Executive Director Cortney Renton will join Jacob Israelow (Dirt Capital Partners) and Patrick Smith (Soil Upside) for a panel discussion on putting capital to work for food systems transitions. The RFSI Forum will bring together 450 investors, capital activators, and critical stakeholders to activate capital across the regenerative food system. This event is THE gathering for learning the why, how and where to invest capital in agriculture and food for financial and impact returns. Learn more and register here ➡  https://lnkd.in/gPQhn2xd #RFSIForum24 #investing #aginvesting #impactinvesting #farming #regenerativeagriculture #foodsystems #naturalcapital #sustainability #agtech

We're looking forward to the Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum this October! Our Executive Director Cortney Renton will be speaking about how Proofing Station puts capital to work in the Midwest food system. Let us know if you'll be there!

Curious about why the #FarmsFund model was created and what supports are needed to keep protecting farmland for the next generation of farmers growing food for people in our region? Check out this inspiring conversation with Emy Brawley and Cortney Renton on The Conservation Fund Metro Chicago #FarmsFund and Proofing Station who provided our first Program-Related Investment to support! https://lnkd.in/gyMAFE8E

Have you checked out the latest issue of Tasting Notes? Our seasonal newsletter covers some of our recent updates, shares an introduction to our newest partners, and includes highlights from out in the field from Executive Director Cortney Renton. Check it out here and subscribe: https://wp.me/penir8-bL

"In 2024, Proofing Station announced its inaugural investment: $1 million to The Conservation Fund’s Farms Fund. This investment will enable The Conservation Fund to purchase and conserve critical farmland in the Chicago region and provide a patient path to farmland ownership for new and disadvantaged farmers – thus aligning with two of Proofing Station’s priorities (land access and market inclusion)." Many thanks to The Chicago Community Trust for this feature on Proofing Station's inaugural investment in Midwest food systems! https://lnkd.in/gA55yspU

PROOFING STATION INVESTS $450,000 IN IYA FOODS TO SUPPORT EXPANDED OPERATIONS ***Iya Foods’ New 37,000 sq ft Facility in Naperville, IL Produces Gluten Free, Allergen Friendly Food*** (Chicago, IL – June 17, 2024) Proofing Station announces a $450,000 equity investment in Iya Foods, a Black- and woman-owned facility, which produces gluten free, allergen friendly food in Naperville, IL. This funding allows Iya Foods to expand its labor force and business operations, after moving into a new 37,000 square foot facility in 2023. Proofing Station is an impact-first charitable investment fund, providing capital access to small- and mid-sized entities in the food and agriculture supply chain. This investment in Iya Foods aligns with two of Proofing Station’s investment priorities: engaging excluded market players and expanding regional infrastructure.  “We’re proud to invest in the expansion of Iya Foods as one of Proofing Station’s first projects,” said Proofing Station Executive Director Cortney Renton. “As we build an integrated and diversified food system in the Upper Midwest, we need regional infrastructure that can meet growing demand, expand markets for farmers, and generate economic activity and food system jobs. Iya Foods exemplifies building capacity throughout the food supply chain, and Toyin is forging a path for other women and Black-owned food businesses in our region, and nationally.” Please click through to read the full press release.

PROOFING STATION INVESTS $1 MILLION IN THE CONSERVATION FUND’S FARMS FUND TO PROTECT LOCAL INDEPENDENT FARMS ***Low-Interest Loan Expands Affordable Land Access for Farmers in Chicago Region*** (Chicago, IL – March 18, 2024) Proofing Station announces its first investment in the sustainable food systems of the Upper Midwest: a $1 million low-interest debt investment to The Conservation Fund’s Farms Fund. Proofing Station’s investment in the Farms Fund will enable The Conservation Fund to purchase and conserve critical farmland in the Chicago region and provide a patient path to farmland ownership for new and disadvantaged farmers. Launched in 2023, Proofing Station is an impact-first charitable investment fund, providing capital access to small- and mid-sized entities in the food and agriculture supply chain. Protecting existing farmland is key to Proofing Station’s overall goal of building a sustainable and equitable food system. This investment in the Farms Fund aligns with two of Proofing Station’s investment priorities: long term access to land and engaging excluded market players. Click through to read the full press release.