Pennsylvania Teams Up with USDA to Boost Farms and Food Businesses: Discover What This Means for Local Agriculture!

Pennsylvania is teaming up with the USDA Northeast Regional Food Business Center to help small and mid-sized farms and food businesses thrive.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is excited to announce its first round of Business Builder sub-awards. This initiative aims to boost the local farming and food sectors by providing crucial funds to small- and mid-sized operations, including aquaculture and wild-caught seafood businesses.

A total of $10 million is available in this first round, with individual awards ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. The goal is to help these businesses scale up, explore new markets, and improve their connection to the regional food supply chain.

“Being close to four of the ten largest markets in the U.S. and having strong transportation options gives Pennsylvania farmers an advantage,” said Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Investing in our markets and supply chains is essential for our agricultural success.”

The Business Builder program offers funding through three main areas:

• Track 1: Equipment Acquisition ($25,000 – $50,000) – This track supports buying essential post-harvest equipment, including wash-and-pack stations, refrigerated vans, and food safety upgrades.
• Track 2: business Development ($15,000 – $25,000) – This is designed for business planning, financial advice, supply chain analysis, food safety training, and workforce strategies.
• Track 3: Product & Market Expansion ($50,000 – $100,000) – This helps businesses innovate with new product development, market research, packaging, and technology implementation.

Applications are open now and will close on April 7. The winners will be announced in July, and funded projects are set to kick off in August.

Through the Business Builder program, Pennsylvania aims to amplify the investments made by the Shapiro Administration in agriculture. Redding emphasized that this collaboration strengthens Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector and enhances its role in the regional food system.

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