USDA Rural Development Programs Provide Food and Farming Systems Grants and Support

Posted on August 27, 2009 by in Food Systems, Funding, Local Food, Marketing, Policy, Publications // 0 Comments

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recently sent out a memo regarding three USDA rural development programs that she thinks can be better utilized to advance local and regional food system development in the following areas: 1) The Communitiy Facilities program; 2) The Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program; and 3) The Value Added Producer Grant Program.

Each provides funds for building local food systems. Some are aimed more at organizations, and some are specifically for producers. Please check out this local-food-memo for detailed descriptions of these programs