Elijah’s Promise enlisted the Spring 2016 Community Development Studio at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University to explore the feasibility of expanding its apiculture, farm to table culinary training, and composting projects.

Elijah’s Promise seeks to build on its strengths to expand community economic development opportunities such as job training, job creation, and business development, as well as produce revenue to fund their work. To explore the potential to expand Elijah’s Promise’s current efforts, studio team members conducted interviews, searched the Internet to learn about similar efforts across the country, and read books and journal articles. Students also met with Elijah’s Promise staff to better understand their current efforts and vision for the future.