Date:

Share:

USDA Grant Programs Maximize Opportunities for Economic Growth in The Local and Regional Food System

Related Articles

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced supplemental  American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Local Agriculture Market  Program (LAMP). The program will receive a total of $130 million in  supplemental American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding to promote  competition and create more and better markets for local and regional  food producers by expanding and strengthening opportunities to sell to  institutions, such as universities, hospitals, and settings operated by  local, tribal, and state governments. The supplemental ARP funding is  divided into $65 million for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 each.

In fiscal year 2022, LAMP will receive a total of $97 million in  competitive grant funding to help local and regional food entities  develop, coordinate and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and  regional food markets and local food enterprises. The total includes  the first $65 million of supplemental ARP funding and $32 million in  funds provided through the 2018 Farm Bill. Of the $97 million, LAMP’s  Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) will receive  $57 million and the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) will  receive $40 million.

“Through these grant programs we are able to maximize opportunities  for economic growth and ingenuity in the local and regional food system.  These grants have generated new income sources for small, beginning and  historically underserved farmers; increased local food access across  rural and urban communities; and provided platforms for value-added and  niche products to shine,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This  year, we are excited to further develop market opportunities for  producers by focusing on farm to institution. Expanded access to and  local food purchasing within institutional markets could be a major boon  for small and mid-sized producers located throughout the country.”

FMLFPP is implemented through two funding opportunities: the Farmers  Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program  (LFPP). FMPP supports direct to consumer markets like farmers markets  and CSAs and the LFPP supports indirect to consumer markets like food  hubs and value-added product incubators. Both programs require a 25%  cash or in-kind match of the Federal portion of the grant.

RFSP supports public-private partnerships that build and strengthen  viability and resilience of local or regional food economies. Projects  focus on increase the availability of locally and regionally produced  agricultural products and alleviating unnecessary administrative and  technical barriers. Projects can cover the planning and design of a  local and regional food economy as well as implementing or expanding an  existing one. This program requires 25% cash match of the Federal  portion of the grant.

Read more

Popular Articles