In an announcement made during the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, President Joe Biden and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack revealed USDA is investing nearly $196 million in 185 projects across 37 states and Puerto Rico. These investments aim to strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains, expand markets for agricultural producers, and reduce food costs. Some highlights of these investments include:
- Lone Star Bakery in Texas will receive a $40 million Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan to modernize facilities and meet the needs of its customers.
- Merchant’s Garden LLC in Arizona will utilize a $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant to expand marketing and sales of prepackaged salad mixes, becoming a local supplier of organic leafy greens.
- Lot 279, LLC in Nebraska will use a Value-Added Producer Grant to process, market, distribute, and advertise their direct-to-consumer beef cattle cuts and shares, increasing revenue and expanding their customer base.
- The Center for EcoTechnology Inc. in Massachusetts will receive a $24,355 Rural Business Development Grant to support small farmers in decarbonizing their farmwork through outreach, technical assistance, training, and education.
USDA is utilizing various programs to create economic opportunities in rural areas, including Rural Business Development Grants, Value Added Producer Grants, Business and Industry Loan Guarantees, the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program, and the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. These initiatives aim to boost rural businesses, promote economic development, and contribute to the resilience and diversity of the U.S. food supply chain.
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