Kelli Mae Kelly

Agriculture & Food Systems Business Advisor, Nevada Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
 M.A. Candidate, Urban Leadership – University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Kelli Kelly is an agriculture and food systems business advisor with the Nevada Small Business Development Center, where she supports entrepreneurs across Nevada in launching and growing resilient, locally-rooted food and farm enterprises. With more than a decade of experience in community and economic development, she has facilitated strategic plans for nonprofits and public agencies, secured over $2 million in grants to strengthen local food systems, and led programs that have increased market access for Nevada farmers and small food producers.

Before joining the Nevada SBDC, Kelli served as Executive Director of the Fallon Food Hub, guiding its transformation into a regional aggregation and distribution center for local producers. Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic ensured no farm closures in Churchill County while delivering over 100,000 pounds of locally grown food to rural and tribal communities.

Currently pursuing her M.A. in Urban Leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Kelli’s research and practice focus on food systems planning, policy innovation, and design-thinking approaches to community resilience. She serves on multiple statewide boards and advisory committees related to food security, economic recovery, and agricultural development, and is a frequent presenter on the intersections of local food systems, public policy, and equitable regional planning.