Upcoming Events
Taste of the IRV
September 26, 11 AM – 2 PM
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech
Join the Institute for Rural Vitality during Coby Homecoming & Family Weekend for the Annual Taste of the IRV! Sample and shop products from IRV participant businesses while enjoying campus-made ice cream and other products created through our Dairy Processing Center. Meet the entrepreneurs and producers behind the products and discover the businesses, food, and innovation being supported through IRV programs. Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Come hungry and experience a true Taste of the IRV!
Dairy Processing Microcredential Series
October 16, 17, 23 & 24 8 AM - 5 PM
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech
Gain hands-on experience in dairy processing through this 38-hour training series at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech’s state-of-the-art Dairy Processing Center. Participants will learn about milk quality and testing, pasteurization, food safety and sanitation, processing systems, and commercial dairy practices. The series is ideal for individuals interested in building skills for careers in New York’s growing dairy industry, as well as farmers and dairy businesses interested in learning how to process their own milk. Thanks to grant funding, the training is available at no cost to eligible participants.
Basic Beekeeping
October 17, 9 AM - 4 PM
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech
Get started with the fundamentals of beekeeping through hands-on training designed for new and beginning beekeepers. Participants will learn the basics of hive management, bee biology, equipment, seasonal management and maintaining a healthy colony. Whether you are interested in starting your first hive or building a stronger foundation in beekeeping, this course provides practical knowledge and skills to get started.
Advanced Beekeeping
October 24, 9 AM - 4 PM
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech
Build on your beekeeping knowledge with advanced instruction focused on managing healthy, productive colonies. Participants will explore more advanced hive management techniques, seasonal considerations, colony health and strategies for addressing common challenges in an established apiary. This course is designed for beekeepers who already have foundational experience and are ready to take their skills to the next level.
Intro to Product Development
October 29, 6 PM - 8 PM
Prentice Hall (IRV Offices)
Have a great product idea but aren't sure what comes next? Join the Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech for an introductory workshop designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners understand the fundamentals of bringing a product from idea to market.
This workshop will cover the basics of successful product development, including refining your product concept, understanding your target customer, considering production and packaging, and preparing to successfully launch your product. Whether you're developing your first product or looking to take an existing idea to the next level, this workshop will provide practical information to help you get started.
Access to Capital
November 18, 6 PM - 8 PM
Prentice Hall (IRV Offices)
Finding the right funding can be one of the biggest challenges facing a new or growing small business. Join the Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech for an introductory workshop focused on the many ways entrepreneurs and small business owners can access capital.
Hear directly from bankers, grantors, and other funding professionals about financing options available to businesses and startups. The workshop will provide an overview of different sources of capital, what funders look for, and how business owners can prepare to pursue funding opportunities.
Whether you're starting a business, purchasing equipment, expanding your operations, or looking for working capital, this workshop will help you better understand your options and where to begin.
Small Business Marketing 101
December 2, 6 PM - 8 PM
Prentice Hall (IRV Offices)
Marketing your business doesn't have to be complicated. Join the Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech for Marketing 101, an introductory workshop covering the fundamentals of marketing a small business and its products.
Learn the basics of identifying your target audience, developing your message, building your brand, and choosing effective ways to reach your customers. This workshop is designed to give entrepreneurs practical marketing knowledge they can begin putting to work right away.
Marketing 101 is also the first workshop in a new sequence of marketing-focused programming led by Andrea Harley, the IRV's new Marketing Coordinator. Through this expanded programming, Andrea will provide local entrepreneurs, producers, and small business owners with additional marketing, advertising, and promotional assistance alongside the IRV's existing Entrepreneurship Assistance Center services.