Our History

Local Matters started in 2002 as The Greater Columbus Foodshed Project (TGCFSP), a collaborative project that emerged from a $200,000 grant from the USDA. The initial partners in TGCFSP were Ohio Citizen Action, Innovative Farmers of Ohio, Stratford Ecological Center, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), Denison University, Franklin Park Conservatory and the Ohio State University.

The Greater Columbus Foodshed Project created over 20 community gardens with the Child Development Council of Franklin County Head Start and other locations around Columbus, as well as cooking classes focusing on locally-grown food for some of Columbus’ inner-city neighborhoods. Two years later, the project moved under the umbrella of Simply Living, a Columbus-area 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Then in 2007, TGCFSP merged with the Central Ohio Chef-Grower Network and changed their name to Local Matters (for simplification, and to expand the project’s focus). Local Matters applied for separate 501(c)3 status and became an independent nonprofit in April 2008.

Today, Local Matters has sixteen staff members, several part-time team members and over 250 active volunteers helping us to achieve a stronger, more secure local food system.