Enroll: Institutions

Restricted to businesses that document significant efforts to purchase and promote locally grown products.

Enroll in the Local Hero Program for 2026 Here!

Local Hero membership benefits

All members benefit from CISA’s aggressive advertising and marketing campaign and promotion of our trademarked slogan Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown^® and Local Hero logo.

Membership benefits include:

Permission to use the Local Hero logo
Listing in the searchable online guide
Starter kit of Local Hero price cards and stickers
A “We Support Local Agriculture” sign for new members
Access to additional low-cost Local Hero supplies and merchandise. See more information here.
Access to CISA marketing expertise and technical assistance
Monthly members-only e-newsletters
Eligibility to serve on CISA’s board and committees
CISA staff will review ad copy, materials, grants, etc. if needed
Priority opportunity to participate in CISA’s annual fundraising event
Opportunity to promote your business’ events on CISA’s website and e-newsletter

Local Hero membership fees

CISA is again offering a sliding scale payment structure for membership fees in 2026 in a continued effort to make access to Local Hero membership more equitable. We invite you to determine the amount you are able to pay without compromising your operation.

The cost of membership is a sliding scale, with guidelines determined by an institution’s total annual dining service revenue. This year we are asking institutions pay what they can between $150 and $1,100. This cost covers staff time to maintain the Online Guide, execute marketing opportunities, “Buy Local” consumer advertising, the cost of the Local Hero POP starter kit, one-on-one CISA staff assistance, and overhead costs. Please use the graphic and the benchmarks below to determine the price you will pay.

If your annual dining service revenue is … / Then your membership fee is:

Under $2 million / $150
$2,000,000 to $3,999,000 / $151-$349 Range
$4,000,000 to $10,999,000 / $350-$749 Range
Over $11,000,000 / $750-$1,100 Range

If your institution does not calculate revenue specific to dining services, we will work with you to develop an alternative measure (i.e. meals served).

Not Sure What to Pay?

$150 covers the cost of the POP starter kit and networking opportunities.

$500 covers the staff time to maintain the online guide and to execute marketing opportunities as well as the cost of the Local Hero starter kit and 1×1 CISA staff assistance.

Those who pay $750 or more help subsidize the cost of those who are unable to afford the baseline price. If you are able to pay more it’s greatly appreciated by CISA and your fellow members.

Want to save $10 when renewing your membership? Complete our 2025 Year-end Survey!

*Complete our survey here!
CISA strives to improve the programs and support we provide to you and we value your feedback. Please take the time to complete our year-end survey to receive a $10 discount that can be used immediately toward your 2026 enrollment fee.

Multiple listings or memberships

If you have multiple businesses or want multiple listings in our online guide (for example, if you have a specialty product line in addition to a farm business, or multiple locations of your restaurant), please fill out an enrollment form for each additional membership. The baseline fee is $50 for each additional membership/listing, but you may apply a sliding scale here as well.