[MPWG] Fwd: USDA Announces $97 Million Available to Expand Access to Healthy Food, Support Rural Economies - Specialty Crop Block Grant Program can be used for growing medicinal plants

Mon Mar 16 10:28:58 CDT 2015

Forwarding information...
SCBGP grants are administered thru each State. Some due dates are drawing
near. You can find the 2015 SCBGP request for proposals online at:
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp>
This news release is also on the USDA website, at:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/f833f3
-Patricia

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Release No. 0064.15Contact:Office of Communications (202)720-4623 USDA
Announces $97 Million Available to Expand Access to Healthy Food, Support
Rural Economies *Grants Will Support Local Food Systems, Specialty Crop
Producers and Farm to School Efforts; Expands Risk Protection for Specialty
Crop Producers*

WICHITA, Kan., March 16, 2015 - In a speech at the National Farmers Union
Convention today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the
availability of $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects
designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs, and
farm to school efforts, which in turn will increase access to healthy,
nutritious food for American families and children. The announcement is
part of USDA efforts during National Nutrition Month to focus on improving
access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious products for millions of Americans.

"Increasing market opportunities for local food producers is a sound
investment in America's rural economies, while also increasing access to
healthy food for our nation's families," Vilsack said. "Consumer demand for
local, healthy food is skyrocketing in schools, hospitals and wholesalers.
These grant opportunities allow farmers and ranchers to meet this demand,
and feed our nation's kids."

Secretary Vilsack also announced changes in the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program (NAP) to help increase access to the program for
beginning, limited-resource and other producers who do not have risk
protection available through crop insurance products. Many of these
producers grow fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops.

"With these changes, more farmers can enter the specialty crop marketplace
with peace of mind that they have risk protection should disaster strike,"
said Vilsack.

The grant programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/>
(AMS)
include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), the Federal-State
Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) and the Farmers Market and Local Food
Promotion Program which covers two types of grants: the Farmers Market
Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). Also
included in the announcement is the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/>
(FNS)
Farm to School Grant Program, designed to bring local foods into the school
cafeteria. USDA's Farm Service Agency
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/>
implements
the NAP program, which has been expanded to better protect specialty crop
and other eligible producers from losses due to natural disasters.

"American farmers and ranchers feed the nation. These grant programs
provide vital support to specialty crop producers, whose fruits and
vegetables fill over half of the MyPlate recommendations," said
Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Anne Alonzo. "They also
support local and regional food systems that are meeting consumer demand
and creating economic opportunities in rural and urban communities around
the country."

Over $63.2 million in SCBGP grants are allocated to U.S. States and
territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage
and production value. Interested applicants should apply directly through
their State department of agriculture. A listing of state contacts and
application due dates can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp>
.

The FSMIP provides $1 million in matching funds to State departments of
agriculture, state colleges and universities, and other appropriate state
agencies. Funds will support research projects that address challenges and
opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S.
agricultural products domestically and internationally.

The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program provides a combined
total of $26.6 million divided equally between its two grant programs. The
FMPP provides $13.3 million to support projects for direct
farmer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers markets,
community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agritourism.
The LFPP offers $13.3 million in funds for projects that support
intermediary supply chain activities for businesses that process,
distribute, aggregate, and store locally- or regionally-produced food
products.

Grant applications for FSMIP, FMPP and LFPP must be submitted
electronically through www.Grants.gov
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&105&&&http://www.grants.gov/>
by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 14, 2015. Applicants should start the
Grants.gov registration process as soon as possible to ensure that they
meet the deadline.

AMS will host a webinar on March 25, 2015, to introduce FMPP and LFPP to
potential applicants and a teleconference about FSMIP on March 31, 2015.
For more information about SCBGP, FSMIP, FMPP, and LFPP, including program
background and webinar information, visit the AMS grants website:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSgrants
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&106&&&http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSgrants>
.

With $6 million in funding available, four different types of USDA Farm to
School grants are available. Planning grants help schools get started,
while implementation grants enable schools to expand existing programs.
Support service grants allow community partners such as non-profit
entities, Indian tribal nations, state and local agencies, and agriculture
producers to provide broad reaching support to schools in their efforts to
bring local products into the cafeteria. Training grants are used to
disseminate best practices and spread strategies known to succeed.
Proposals for planning, implementation, and support service grants are due
by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, May 20, 2015. Letters of intent for training
grants are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, April 30, 2015.

More information about the Farm to School grant program, upcoming webinars
relevant to applicants, and sample grant applications can be found at:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school-grant-program
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwMzE2LjQyOTIxMDAxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDMxNi40MjkyMTAwMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MjkxMjM0JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&107&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school-grant-program>
.

These programs are key elements of the USDA's Know Your Food, Know Your
Farmer initiative which coordinates the Department's support for local and
regional food systems. The Secretary has identified local and regional food
systems as one of the four pillars of rural economic development.

   - The 2012 Census of Agriculture indicates that more than 160,000
   farmers and ranchers nationwide are tapping into growing consumer demand by
   selling their products locally. This segment of agriculture is a vibrant
   growth area that is drawing young people back to rural communities,
   generating jobs and improving quality of life in rural communities.
   - In FY13-14, USDA made over 500 infrastructure investments that create
   new markets for local food- including food hubs, scale-appropriate
   processing, and distribution networks - that are connecting farmers and
   ranchers with new sources of revenue and creating jobs.
   - Since the program began in 2012, USDA's Farm to School program has
   funded 221 projects in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin
   Islands. According to the USDA's Farm to School Census, schools spent over
   $385 million on local food purchases during the 2011-2012 school year.
   - USDA has expanded access to healthy foods in underserved communities
   by making EBT available at farmers markets. Over 5,000 farmers markets now
   accept EBT, and SNAP redemption at farmers markets nationwide rose from $4
   million in 2009 to over $18 million in 2014.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800)
877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
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