North America Regional Resources

About the Impact Center

The mission and purpose of ECHO North America Regional Impact Center (North America RIC) is to equip small-scale farmers, missionaries, and development workers worldwide to combat hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Here at ECHO North America, individuals are trained with practical and cost-effective ways to reduce hunger through agricultural practices.

Join us for two tours that take place at our Impact Center in North Fort Myers, Florida:

ECHO Global Farm Tour

Offered multiple times per week, and by appointment for groups, you'll experience farming at its most creative, with unique demonstrations, plants, and techniques being used to help farmers and urban gardeners in developing countries.

ECHO Appropriate Technology Village Tour

Join us on Fridays to discover how simple technologies can improve food, water, and shelter for millions of people. These technologies include transforming sand into water filters, manure into energy, and bicycles into power tools.

The goal of the ECHO Global Seed Bank is to serve as a resource for development workers who wish to experiment with underutilized crops as they work to improve the lives of small scale farmers and gardeners. The seed bank maintains a collection of hard-to-find seeds that thrive under the often difficult growing conditions of the tropics and sub-tropics.

Internship opportunities equip college graduates with the academic theory and practical skills related to agriculture and community development. The goal of the program is to prepare those who wish to serve as international missionaries and development workers. Interns at the North America Impact Center have the opportunity to participate in field experiences at one of ECHO's other Regional Impact Centers.