Spotlight Community Profiles
Community Profiles
Local Insights, National Impact
The CEA Accelerator partnered with communities across the U.S. to test and validate tools that lower barriers to entry for resource-efficient CEA. These profiles highlight local agricultural contexts, infrastructure, workforce potential, and climate conditions, offering real-world insights that inform future deployment strategies.
Each profile is available for download and includes a qualitative evaluation of tailored technology pathways and analysis of regional barriers and opportunities.
York County, Pennsylvania
Rooted in Agriculture, Poised for Innovation
With a strong agricultural identity and preserved farmland, York County is well-positioned for CEA adoption. However, small and emerging growers face high startup costs and limited access to CEA-specific support. Recommended solutions include expanding technical assistance and leveraging efficient HVAC, colocation, and water technologies.
[Download Full Profile →]
Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i
Remote Innovation, Local Resilience
Kaua‘i offers year-round growing conditions and a strong tradition of diversified agriculture, but struggles with geographic isolation, high energy costs, and limited infrastructure. Technology pathways focus on renewable electricity, water efficiency, and climate-adapted HVAC to support local food production and economic resilience.
[Download Full Profile →]
Augusta, Georgia, and Rural Surroundings
Legacy Agriculture Meets Emerging Opportunity
This region offers affordable land, water access, and strong agricultural institutions, but barriers persist for small operators navigating financing and zoning. Stakeholders identified colocation, advanced controls, and energy-efficient HVAC systems as key tools to help bridge the resource gap and expand inclusive CEA adoption.
[Download Full Profile →]
Southwest Lake Erie Region (Detroit, Toledo, Wooster, Cleveland)
A Legacy of Agriculture, a Future in Innovation
A highly industrialized, agriculturally rich region with strong research infrastructure, this area faces challenges with land access and financing for small farms. High colocation potential, paired with low-carbon heat and advanced control systems, offers a blueprint for scaling sustainable CEA in urban and rural zones alike.
[Download Full Profile →]
Riverside, California
A Historic Agriculture Hub Shaping the Future of Controlled Environments
Once the heart of California’s citrus boom, Riverside is now a regional innovation center with strong institutional support—but high land costs and regulatory complexity pose real challenges. Solutions lie in deploying efficient water and energy systems, solar generation, and policy reforms to support local-scale operations.
[Download Full Profile →]
Thank you to those who contributed to our Community Engagement Committee who helped develop these profiles.
Dulce Dorado, Resource Innovation Institute
Dr. Vanessa Ellison, University of Texas Health Science Center
Frederick Griffin, Ebony Tree Farms
Joyce Jong, City of Riverside
James Brady, OmniGro
George Carter, Skout Strategy, Inc.
Sharee McFadden, City of York, Pennsylvania
Nicole Shaffer, Doceo Office Solutions