A well connected local food system creates new jobs in the agricultural and processing sectors, increases tax revenue and contributes to vibrant local economies in New York State. The lack of appropriately scaled local processing and distribution infrastructure, however, creates challenges for small and medium-scale producers. Local governments have an important role to play in bringing together actors from across the food sector to develop innovative solutions to this problem. Through a series of case studies, we show how local governments can build a strong local food economy by promoting local and regional products, coordinating existing resources and assisting with development of business infrastructure for local producers.