Grants will enhance local food systems and resilience as seven additional states join the initiative.
Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted over $270 million to state agricultural departments to enhance resilience in the food supply chain and support local and regional food systems. Administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program will distribute funding through a competitive grant process to various entities, including agricultural producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, local government bodies, educational institutions, and hospitals.
“These unprecedented investments into our nation’s supply chain infrastructure will not only benefit consumers by ensuring they have dependable access to fresh and locally produced food, the investments will benefit producers and rural communities by providing more options and creating more, new and better markets for small and mid-size producers,” Secretary Vilsack said at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s 2024 Winter Policy Conference.
Secretary Vilsack announced that seven additional states applied for the program, joining the 28 states that are already providing grant funding for projects.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For discernment for Secretary Vilsack as he heads the USDA and oversees grant initiatives.
- For Administrator Bruce Summers as he leads the Agricultural Marketing Service and manages the food supply infrastructure program.
Sources: Department of Agriculture
