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KNOW YOUR FARMER KNOW YOUR FOOD Working to reinvigorate local Food Systems |
USDA started the Know Your Farmer Know Your Food (KYF2) Initiative to connect consumers with local producers, helping them to get a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it gets to their plates. With this initiative, USDA will provide funding to ensure that farmers continue to contribute to economies and also to support the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
Rural Development provides funding to ensure farmers continue to contribute to local economies and take steps to develop critical infrastructure in communities across America. The mission of Rural Development is to assist farmers, help consumers access nutritious foods and support rural community development through the following programs:
Business and
Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program
Rural Business
Enterprise/Opportunity Grants
Rural Cooperative
Development Grants
Value Added
Producer Grants
Rural Energy for
America Program
Community
Facilities Program
ATTRA-National
Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Business
and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program
helps
new and existing businesses based in rural areas gain access to
affordable capital.
•Who can apply: A lender making a loan in an eligible town or city with population size less than 50,000 to any of the
following:
§Cooperatives
§Non-profit organizations
§Federally recognized Indian tribes
§Public bodies or individuals
•Possible Projects include:
§Business conversion, development or repair
§Purchase and development of land
§Purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements
§Working capital and debt refinancing
Rural
Business Enterprise/Opportunity Grant Programs
support the
development of small and emerging businesses for
start-up or expansion of their business ventures through training and technical assistance and employment-related adult
educational programs.
•Who can apply:
§Local governments
§Economic development corporations
§Non-profit organizations
§Federally recognized Indian tribes
•Possible Projects include:
§Market expansion
§Farmers market organizations
§Employee training
§Food processing businesses
Rural
Cooperative Development Grants
improve the economic condition of rural areas
through the development of new
cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives.
•Who can apply:
§Not-for-profit entities
Value
Added Producers Grants
give funding assistance for planning or
working capital activities related to the processing
and/or marketing of value added products. They also give assistance to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers.
•Who can apply:
§Private for-profit agri-business owners wanting to add value to their raw commodity
•Possible Projects Include:
§Planning activities
§Working capital to market the new value added product locally, regionally and nationally
Rural
Energy for America Program
provides grants to agriculture producers and
rural small businesses to purchase and
install renewable energy systems and make energy efficient improvements.
•Who can apply:
§Rural projects that reduce energy use and result in savings for the producer or small business
•Possible Projects Include:
§Efficient lighting or insulation
§Purchasing or replacing equipment with more energy efficient units
rovides financial assistance for the purchase of equipment, construction and the
purchase or renovation of community facilities.
•Who can apply:
§Local governments
§Non-profit organizations
§Federally recognized Indian tribes
§Community based organizations
§Population less than 20,000
•Possible Projects Include:
§Farmers markets
§School/Community kitchens
§Community food banks
The
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
specializes
in responding to questions about specific
agriculture sustainable enterprises or practices. This program is managed by the nonprofit National Center for Appropriate
Technology (NCAT). For more information go to www.attra.ncat.org.