OFA supports topp regional leads

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded $125,682.35 to Rural Action Inc. on March 1, 2026, under the Regional Food System Partnerships program (CFDA 10.177), a component of the Local Agricultural Marketing Program that supports partnerships connecting public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems and enhance food economy viability and resilience.

Rural Action Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit based in The Plains, Ohio, will perform work in Ohio through February 29, 2028. The award is a Project Grant, the assistance type for this funding mechanism.

The Regional Food System Partnerships program supports two types of projects: 24-month Planning and Design and 36-month Implementation and Expansion Projects. Awards are available for up to three years in length, with the option to request a one-year extension to complete the project. Recipients must retain all financial and programmatic records for three years after the Agricultural Marketing Service receives the final Federal Financial Report or until final resolution of any audit findings or litigation claims.

Rural Action operates as a prime recipient of federal grants focused on environmental remediation, agricultural development, workforce training, and community economic development in Appalachian Ohio and West Virginia. The organization's capability portfolio includes acid mine drainage remediation, water quality restoration, small-acreage agricultural market access, value-added farm product development, workforce training for displaced workers and underserved populations, local food system development and farm-to-school programming, and brownfield assessment and cleanup planning in post-industrial communities.