WASHINGTON — The U.S. Division of Agriculture's Agricultural Advertising and marketing Service not too long ago introduced it has a cooperative settlement with Virginia below the Resilient Meals Methods Infrastructure Program to supply greater than $6.three million in aggressive challenge grants designed to construct resilience all through the provision chain.
Virginia is accepting purposes for Infrastructure Grant funding till April 15.
“This partnership between USDA and Virginia is permitting essential funds to succeed in areas of the provision chain that want it most,” mentioned USDA Underneath Secretary for Advertising and marketing and Regulatory Packages Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Tasks funded via this program will create new alternatives for the area's small and medium-sized producers to thrive, develop entry to nutritious meals choices, and enhance provide chain resilience.”
In Might, the Division of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the supply of as much as $420 million via the Resilient Meals Methods Infrastructure (RFSI) Program approved by the American Rescue Plan to strengthen native and regional meals programs, it mentioned.
By way of this program, the Agricultural Advertising and marketing Service (AMS) has entered into cooperative agreements with state businesses, commissions, or departments chargeable for agriculture, business meals processing, seafood, or meals programs, and distribution or business actions. in US states or territories
Utilizing RFSI funds, the Virginia Division of Agriculture and Client Providers (VDACS) will fund tasks that enhance chilly storage and flash freezing amenities, present extra transportation choices, modernize gear for value-added processing, and develop aggregation capability, in accordance with the USDA. .
“There are roughly 41,500 farming operations within the Commonwealth and the overwhelming majority of them are household owned. To assist native and regional farms and meals companies obtain scale and effectivity, we should put money into provide chain infrastructure and assist facilitate market entry,” mentioned Joseph Guthrie, Commissioner of the Division of Agriculture and Client Providers. Virginia.
These thinking about receiving a sub-award should apply immediately via VDACS by April 15. AMS encourages purposes serving smaller farms and ranches, new and starting farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
By way of this system and along with Infrastructure Grant funding, VDACS will assist provide chain coordination and technical help to farmers and meals companies working in processing, aggregation and distribution, the USDA mentioned.
For extra data, go to the AMS Resilient Meals Methods Infrastructure webpage.