Project Grant 20194940030455

This three-year, $746,176 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) will fund the Regional Resilience: An Integrated Approach to New Farmer Training in the Chesapeake project. Delivered by Future Harvest Inc. from Cockeysville, Maryland, this project aims to strengthen and diversify the new farmer pipeline across the Chesapeake region through integrated in-person and online farmer...

The Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) and Chesapeake Culinary Center (CCC) will partner to plan and develop a regional farm-to-freezer value chain coordination program through a $139,941.96 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The partnership will establish strategies for a food processing facility utilizing individual quick freezing (IQF) technology, cold storage and distribution systems, pricing approaches to increase farmer margins,...

The Chester County Economic Development Foundation will use a $125,819 project grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to support the development, coordination and expansion of local and regional food systems. Specifically, the Foundation will work to address barriers to product delivery that limit farms' and food producers' abilities to expand marketing opportunities and sales within their...

The Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, Inc. (ESEC) received a $7.46 million Project Grant award from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program. The grant funds the Agriculture and Bio Technology Commercialization Coalition project run by ESEC. The project will scale up existing accelerator and incubator programs across Maryland to enhance commercialization support for biotech and agritech startups. This includes...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a $748,348 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (CFDA 10.311) project grant to The Farm School At Gibbs Road Inc. (doing business as KC Farm School At Gibbs Road) to lead the KC F.A.R.M.E.R.S. Coalition. This 3-year project from 2023-2026 provides farmer-led, hands-on agricultural education, business training, and mentorship opportunities to attract, support, and retain new and beginning farmers...

Project Grows, Inc. received a $445,500 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to expand direct-to-consumer markets in the Central Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The project aims to increase market access for small, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers as well as traditionally underserved and low-income communities through initiatives such as launching a...

The Building a Regional Food Ecosystem for the Mid-Atlantic RFEMA Project will receive $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program to demonstrate a replicable and scalable model for implementing a regional transportation network to connect local producers with buyers. Led by 4P Foods, Inc. PBC, a $10 million food hub and distributor, the project will plan and develop local and regional food systems...

The Southeast Michigan Producers Association (Sempa Farms) was awarded a $298,800 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP, CFDA 10.311). The grant will support Sempa Farms' project to build capacity and provide outreach to socially disadvantaged beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers in Southeast Michigan. Through innovative production and marketing strategies...

The Organic Growers School Inc. was awarded a $750,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program to provide training, technical assistance, and land access services to beginning farmers and ranchers in Western North Carolina through September 2024. The Organic Growers School, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and NC Farmlink will collectively offer a comprehensive suite of programs...

This $300,000 three-year federal Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (CFDA 10.311 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program) will fund the Mountain Roots NextGen Regen Beginning Farmer Training Program - Solutions for Resilience in a Changing Climate. Over 2025-2027, this program will provide comprehensive training, education, mentorship, and hands-on experience to 60 aspiring agrarians in regenerative and hydroponic...