Hudson Varick Resources Ltd (HVR) is a mission and values driven consultancy. We focus on the intersection of soil health, climate change and local economic development using a local food system lens. We help grantmakers, impact investors, entrepreneurs and interested stakeholders identify solutions that are rooted in a deep love and respect for people and the planet. Hudson Varick leverages a unique combination of skills, experience, knowledge and relationships to deliver meaningful results.

HVR works in three main areas:

01.

Market Research & Evaluation

Through robust primary and secondary research, HVR researches and evaluates the success criteria and risk factors of markets for clients, identifies gaps and barriers to action and creates a path forward. Typical projects include landscape analysis, stakeholder analysis, market analysis, best practice reviews, case studies, impact pathways, benchmark and metric development, and program outcome evaluation.

02.

Business Development

Based on the needs, resources and desired outcomes of our clients, HVR can assist food and farm entrepreneurs to grow through opportunity identification, market development, business planning, and financial modeling.

03.

Grantmaking & Impact Investment Advisory

HVR specializes in supporting family foundations and impact first investors looking for cutting edge, system level solutions in developing regenerative food systems. HVR provides strategic guidance on grantmaking, develops participatory grantmaking models, undertakes governance assessment and redesign, and supports organizational development. HVR develops and co-creates innovative funding solutions that can magnify impact.

About

Karen Hiniker Simons, Principal of Hudson Varick Resources Ltd, is a respected consultant with over 20+ years of experience working toward healthy local economies. Her work is based on the belief that people and planet matter, and profit comes when both are well. Since founding HVR in 2010, she has focused on sustainable and equitable local economic development thorough food systems.

Through Karen’s work at the WellMet Group, a foundation that supports community based innovation by funding emerging nonprofits, she developed a deep understanding of how strategic impactful investments can grow local communities and improve people’s lives. Under her 15 years of leadership, WellMet provided over $2.3 million in grants to nonprofits.

Prior to founding Hudson Varick Resources Ltd. and leading WellMet Group, Karen spent 10 years in the financial services industry where she oversaw a $2 billion fixed-income investment portfolio. She was responsible for investment analysis and decision making, technical structure of transactions, legal documentation and portfolio monitoring including workouts and restructurings.

Kaen Hinker Simons

Karen Hiniker Simons, Principal

Karen holds both a Master in Business Administration and a Master in Public Policy from New York University, is a Certified Financial Analyst, a Master Gardener of Connecticut and serves on the Boards of Bedford 2020, GreenWave and Westchester Growers Alliance.

Public Projects

Hudson Valley Food Hubs Initiative
Hudson Valley Food Hubs Initiative Report

Financing a Better Food System:
A Study of Infrastructure Needs and Available Financing in the Hudson Valley

Clients

Farmer Owned Farmer Grown
greenwav_white_bkgd_logo_400x400
cuny_logo_400x400
doe_400x400
The Blueprint
local econimies project
Path Foundation
The Carrot Project

Contact Us

Send us an email.