U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director Betsy Dirksen Londrigan announced today that USDA is making investments that will expand markets for agricultural producers and strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains.
“Rural Development is dedicated to supporting America’s farmers and ranchers by helping expand their businesses, support the supply chain, and create good-paying jobs” says Dirksen Londrigan. “These investments are crucial to our agricultural producers and rural entrepreneurs, creating better economic opportunities and ensuring long term success in our small communities and towns.”
Today’s announcement was made as part of the inaugural meeting of the new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience which is part of President Biden’s agenda to bring down costs for American families and increase investment in America’s supply chains critical to economic and national security. Today’s funding builds on prior investments made by USDA under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase competition, enhance independent meat and poultry and other diversified food processing capacity, strengthen local and regional food systems, and expand domestic, innovative fertilizer production.
For example:
- All Grass Farms received a Value-Added Producer Grant to help expand their various farm-based meat and egg products. All Grass Farms raises grass-fed and/or pasture raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, cattle, hogs, and lambs. They sell their products primarily through their farm-based store in Dundee, IL, and current customer base is about 15 square miles. Receiving this grant will enable them to expand their operation to delivery services to 4 surrounding states: Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.
Background
USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration are making these investments through six programs designed to create economic opportunities for people and businesses in rural areas.
Rural Business Development Grants assist with economic development planning and/or the financing or expansion of rural businesses by providing technical assistance and training for small rural businesses.
The Value Added Producer Grants Program helps farmers and ranchers venture into new markets by adding value to their bio-based products that will increase their revenue. Funds may be used to process or market these products. For example, an olive farmer may use funding to produce and market olive oil.
Business and Industry Loan Guarantees help improve rural economic health by increasing access to business capital, allowing commercial lenders, like banks and credit unions, to offer affordable financing to eligible rural businesses. This program was authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program supported investments in infrastructure for food processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, aggregation and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse and secure U.S. food supply chain through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which, in turn, lend the funding to local businesses to support projects that will create and keep jobs in rural areas.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans, loan guarantees and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
***Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture***
