Rep. Lofgren Announces $50K in Federal Funding for Small Farms in the Salinas Valley
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will distribute $50,000 in federal funding to El Pajaro Community Development Corporation to provide assistance to small farms in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties following challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Farms and ranches in the Salinas Valley help feed the nation, and many of them struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic while still keeping food on our tables. This federal funding will provide necessary aid to our local business, agricultural workforce, and help protect our food supply. I will always support investments that help producers and farmworkers in California’s 18th Congressional District,” said Rep. Lofgren.
The USDA funding comes from the Rural Business Development Grants program which supports small, rural businesses with technical assistance, training, and development services. This grant, specifically, will benefit ten local farms and allow for five jobs to be added and ten jobs to be saved.
The FY23 consolidated appropriations package that Rep. Lofgren voted in favor of provided the Rural Business Development Grants funding that is being delivered.
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