Focus: Improve and expand
farmers' markets, roadside stands,
community-supported agriculture and
other direct producer to consumer market
opportunities.
Focus: Applied research
projects that address barriers,
challenges and opportunities in
marketing, transportation, and
distribution of U.S. food and
agricultural products.
USDA, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension (CSREES)
Focus: Competitive grants
program supporting research, education
and sustainability includes such areas
as producer grants and sustainable
community innovation.
Focus: Meeting the food needs
of low-income people, increasing the
self-reliance of communities in
providing for their own food needs and
meeting specific state, local or
neighborhood food and agriculture needs.
USDA, National Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS)
Focus: Provide technical
assistance to communities through
designated USDA areas. Assist
conservation efforts and the stewardship
and management of natural resources
while improving economic activity and
standard of living in communities.
Focus: Ensure that information
and technical assistance programs are
effectively targeted to women,
limited-resource, socially
disadvantaged, and other traditionally
underserved procedures.
Focus: Locally-produced
agriculture food products.
Priority is given to small to
medium-sized family farms. 10% of
funds reserved for beginning or socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
10% of funds reserved to develop
local/regional supply networks linking
independent producers with businesses
and cooperatives.
Focus: Establish and
facilitate processing, distribution,
aggregation, storing and marketing of
local/regional food products. Help
new and existing rural businesses gain
access to affordable capital.
Priority will be given to projects
benefiting underserved communities.
Through 2012, at least 5% of funds will
support initiatives in local and
regional agriculture.
Focus: Assist in the
development of essential community
facilities. Construct, enlarge, or
improve community facilities for health
care, public safety, and community and
public services including the purchase
of equipment required for a facilities
operation. Provide loans and
grants for the construction, acquisition
or renovation of community facilities or
for the purchase of equipment for
community projects.