The USDA offered the first glimpse of their new Regional Food Business Centers approach via Zoom. Listed below is a recording link from today’s session for those who want to see if firsthand:

https://www.zoomgov.com/rec/share/ZEI35DwUboT5gXC8VsJbclyoYPdZ5-iHUGECGGyUyk_5Zv7JlzNQecCCsDae3-BF.JbVo_MaclpKQ4HzN

From the press release:

“USDA will fund at least six regional centers, to include a national tribal center and at least one center serving each of three targeted areas: Colonias (counties on the US/Mexico border), persistent poverty or other communities of high need/limited resources areas of the Delta and the Southeast, and high need areas of Appalachia as well as centers in other regions of the country.

The USDA Regional Food Business Centers will support a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system.  These Regional Food Centers will support producers by providing localized assistance to access local and regional supply chains, including linking producers to wholesalers and distributors. They will provide technical assistance needed to access new markets, access to federal, state, and local resources, and will assist small- and mid-sized producers in overcoming barriers to market access, with a focus on underserved farmers, ranchers, and food businesses.  No match is required. (The minimum request is at 15 million to a maximum of 50 million for each proposal and are due by November 22, 2022.)

Click to access RegionalFoodBusinessCentersFactSheet.pdf