WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small announced this month that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help farmers and ranchers maximize the value of the items they produce. USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help agricultural producers … [Read more...]
USDA invests $1 billion in rural community facilities
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh announced on Jan. 26 that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam (PDF, 449 KB). This infrastructure funding will increase access to health care, education and public safety while spurring community development and … [Read more...]
Upcoming conference to showcase entrepreneurship in Tennessee
A four-day event in Nashville, Tenn. is being billed as "the first major gathering of Tennessee's entrepreneurial ecosystem following the pandemic." LanchTN's Innovation Week will include exhibitions of startups, special keynotes, breakout sessions, investor meetings, and legislative meetings. The gathering will be held from March 21st through the 24th and registration is … [Read more...]
Webinar to tackle grocery succession planning
When a rural grocery store owner is ready to move on from the business, finding the right person to take over can often be a challenge. This puts grocery stores, which are often anchor businesses in rural communities, at risk of closing. The Rural Grocery Initiative out of Kansas State Research and Extension is hosting a webinar to discuss this common problem and provide … [Read more...]
USDA touts loan guarantee program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is deploying $100 million under the new Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program to make available nearly $1 billion in loan guarantees; these loan guarantees will back private investment in processing and food supply infrastructure. The funding is available through the American Rescue … [Read more...]