The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is fostering the importance of rural entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy by awarding $25 million in value-added grants for projects in 46 states.
The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program. The program helps farmers and ranchers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products, according to the USDA.
The grants can be used to support local and regional food systems and their distribution. Funding will help rural businesses flourish and to diversify, creating new products and jobs.
Each project must meet the terms of the grant agreement to positively impact rural communities. For a complete list of grant recipients, click here.