New York State Department of Agriculture Announces Webinar for USDA Regional Food Business Center Grant Opportunity

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today announced that it is hosting a webinar in collaboration with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, the Center for Regional Economic Advancement at Cornell University, and Farm Credit East to inform and engage interested parties in the northeast about the United States Department of Agriculture Regional Food Business Center grant opportunity. These partners are seeking input from groups across the region to best represent their needs in an application for a northeast center. 

The webinar will be held on Thursday, November 3, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm ET. The agenda includes a brief description of the RFBC grant, an introduction from grant application partners and supporters, and descriptions of the funding opportunities planned through the RFBC, including technical assistance, business builder grants, and market access grants. 

The webinar will also allow for stakeholders and potential grant supporters to provide feedback and ask questions about the application process and program vision.  

The RFBCs will support and create a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system focused on underserved producers, processors, aggregators, distributors, and other businesses within the supply chain. RFBCs will offer comprehensive, collaborative, and regionally driven community and economic development that improves opportunities and competitiveness of food and farm businesses, including value-added activities that generate additional business revenue. 

The northeast application seeks to include the 10 states in the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s region: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.  

To register for the webinar, please visit:
https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zFD0etf7RRKgmxY8YKN4qw 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar, which is hosted by Cornell University.  

To share additional thoughts around this opportunity, please complete and submit the following intake form found at https://airtable.com/shrUIYKxUXZ5DPOjC by November 14. This form will be discussed during the webinar as well.