By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is dedicating $600,000 through its Business Builder Grants to empower small and mid-sized farm and food businesses within North Dakota South Dakota and Minnesota.
This initiative, orchestrated by the USDA’s North Central Regional Food Business Center, is designed to provide essential financial support for projects that cater to regional needs, offering a vital boost to businesses aiming to launch or expand their operations.
To fortify the local and regional food systems, the USDA had previously allocated $360 million to establish 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers, including a National Intertribal Food Business Center.
These centers are crucial in providing coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to small and mid-sized producers, aiming to cultivate a more resilient and competitive food system.
The North Central Regional Food Business Center, spearheaded by the Region Five Development Commission, is at the forefront of this endeavor in the specified states.
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt emphasized, "The Regional Food Business Centers are a cornerstone of USDA’s food system transformation efforts. "
The Business Builder Grant program is set to enhance the operational capacity of the region's small and mid-sized farmers and food businesses by facilitating access to new markets and investors, echoing the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA's vision for a dynamic regional food economy.
The program prioritizes a range of applicants, including consortiums of local foods value chain businesses and those aimed at overcoming market bottlenecks or fulfilling regional action plan goals.
Special consideration is given to applicants serving distressed areas within the three states, ensuring a wide geographic distribution of the awards.
The North Central Regional Food Business Center has earmarked $3 million for the Business Builder program over a five-year span, with individual awards up to $50,000.
This competitive award opportunity, which requires no matching funds, is supported by a network of technical assistance providers to help eligible entities navigate the application process.
Cheryal Hills, Executive Director of the Region Five Development Commission, lauded this as a groundbreaking opportunity for stakeholders traditionally facing challenges in accessing federal programs. Applications for this funding are open through April 30, 2024.
For more details on eligibility and application procedures, interested parties are encouraged to visit the North Central Regional Food Business Center's website.
Photo Credit -usda-regional-food-business-centers
Categories: North Dakota, Business, Government & Policy