Courtney Announces Grant Opportunities for Local Food Enterprises | Congressman Joe Courtney
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Courtney Announces Grant Opportunities for Local Food Enterprises

May 8, 2014

Washington, DC—Today Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) announced the availability of $78 million, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, in support of local and regional food enterprises through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Connecticut producers and consumers have had great success in expanding the presence of farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, and agri-tourism. These funds would benefit both producers and consumers in eastern Connecticut by increasing access to CT-Grown agricultural products through the development of new market opportunities, and the expansion of existing producer-to-consumer operations,” Courtney said. “I enthusiastically supported the increase in funding in my position on the Agriculture Committee during the Farm Bill process. These grant opportunities are well suited for our state and I look forward to supporting applications on behalf of the Second District.”

$48 million in loan guarantees are now available on a rolling basis for local food projects through USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program (B&I), and $30 million is available for the newly-expanded Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP). As required by the Farm Bill, half of the $30 million will be awarded to farmers market projects, and half will be awarded to newly-eligible local food promotion projects.

Applications are due on June 20, 2014. Examples of previous projects funded through this program can be foundhere.