About
Through the Regional Food Business Center program, USDA established a total of 12 Regional Food Business Centers that will serve all areas of the country with a focus towards historically underinvested communities and will provide coordination, technical assistance and capacity building for farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish the USDA Northeast Regional Food Business Center. The Northeast Regional Food Business Center will develop and amplify local and regional supply chains, with a strong emphasis on building equity and community resiliency into these systems in 11 states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont – and the District of Columbia. NASDA member collaborators include the Northeast State Departments of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
Program Overview
The $30 million award will direct funding into two grant streams – Technical Assistance and Business Builder subawards – to expand production/processing, create new products, encourage food hub development, and/or increase supply chain coordination and access for producers and food businesses. A Community Advisory Council representing the diverse agricultural and community needs within the region will be assembled to guide and govern the Center and its work.
The main objectives of the Northeast Regional Food Business Center are to:
- Coordinate a regional network of Northeast system partners and connect with other Regional Food Business Centers nationwide.
- Increase the amount and diversity of regionally grown products and food businesses by providing technical assistance and financial support.
- Increase the capacity of regional supply chains to identify, procure, aggregate, market and distribute products to major Northeast markets.
- Build sustainability into the Regional Food Business Center activities to ensure continued growth and resiliency.
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Committed to creating a more diversified and resilient food system.
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