A new $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will boost the resources and assistance for farmers and food businesses in Appalachia.
According to Rural Action, the new Appalachian Regional Food Business Center's goals include reaching at least 10,000 food and farm businesses through grants, technical assistance, and assistance with land access.
Adam Hudson, senior director of agriculture for the nonprofit Coalfield Development, said producers will be able to apply for funding for new equipment or other needs to help accelerate their businesses.
"These are going to be direct grants to agriculture businesses that can then use these funds to accelerate their businesses and improve their market ability of their products," Hudson explained.
According to the USDA, the goal of the program is to transform the food system in rural communities to better benefit producers and consumers by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new and improved markets. The $400 million initiative is funding the creation of twelve new regional food business centers nationwide.
Source: publicnewsservice.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jimfeng
Categories: North Dakota, Government & Policy