News

USDA awards RDVA grants

The USDA has awarded 45-million-dollars nationwide in Rural Development Value-Added grants to help develop new markets and start-up businesses.

One of the recipients is Eau Clare, Wisconsin apple orchard Leffel Roots.

Co-owner Laura Leffel says the 22-thousand-dollars they received will help expand their business and grow their orchard.  “We have a tiny little pumpkin patch, we have a couple of corn mazes, and we have this little store here, but what we do have are a lot of apples, and this grant is allowing us to use those apples to make better products for our customers and the people who come to visit.”

Congressman Ron Kind says the grants, funded by the Farm Bill, help create jobs and promote growth in Rural America.  He says, “When you talk about start-up businesses, those willing to take a risk, that’s where a program like this value-added program at USDA can really come in and give them a little bit of a boost when it comes to production, the marketing, the distribution, and the value-added that they bring to the products.”

Wisconsin director of Rural Development Stan Gruszynski says the USDA plays a role building a strong foundation for rural businesses.  “In order to make rural communities work and insure that there’s broadband, telecommunication, business opportunities, infrastructure, water and waste, housing, it takes support from the federal government.”

More than 300 grants were distributed nationwide.

Twenty-three grants were awarded in Wisconsin; 17 grants in Nebraska, 15 in Missouri, 8 in Michigan and Minnesota, 6 in Iowa, 4 in Illinois, and 3 in Indiana.

Leffel encourages other producers to apply for the grants.

The full list of nationwide grant recipients can be found online, here.