WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces $8.4 million to support the work of 54 partner organizations in 35 states to provide training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged, tribal and veteran farmers and ranchers. An additional $400,000 will help establish the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss.

Among the award recipients are 31 partner organizations that serve persistent poverty counties that are part of USDA's StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative. Twenty-five of the partnerships include resources for veterans interested in farming and 12 focus on tribal communities.

Check this list of recipients to see if any are in your region. There might be ways to coordinate their efforts with your community support initiatives or marketing promotions.

State

Recipient Organization

Award Amount

Alabama

Alabama A&M University

$180,791

Alabama

Alabama State Assn. of Cooperatives

$200,000

Alabama

Tuskegee University

$200,000

Alabama

The United Christian Community Assn.

$114,300

Alaska

Alaska Tribal Conservation Alliance

$86,286

Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks

$75,134

Arizona

Developing Innovation in Navajo Education

$199,348

Arkansas

University of Arkansas System

$200,000

California

National Hmong American Farmers

$105,847

Colorado

Adams State University

$127,387

Colorado

First Nations Development Institute

$158,175

Delaware

Delaware State University

$199,988

Florida

Wealth Watchers

$176,131

Florida

Florida International University

$174,759

Florida

North South Institute

$141,664

Georgia

Georgia Organics

$59,392

Georgia

Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council

$106,417

Georgia

Quarterman, James dba FMG Farm

$125,981

Hawaii

The Kohala Center

$171,465

Idaho

Mountain States Group

$94,052

Kentucky

Kentucky State University

$199,982

Louisiana

Southern University and A&M College

$200,000

Maryland

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

$181,605

Michigan

Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems

$101,105

Minnesota

Hmong National Development

$195,926

Minnesota

Latino Economic Development CE

$200,000

Mississippi

Alcorn State University Education Building Corp.

$200,000

Mississippi

Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance

$150,000

Mississippi

Tugaloo College

$199,983

Mississippi

Tri-County Agricultural Cooperative

$150,992

Mississippi

Winston County Self Help

$200,000

Missouri

Lincoln University

$199,965

Montana

NACDC Financial Services

$131,859

Montana

National Center for Appropriate Technology

$99,095

New Mexico

New Mexico State University

$199,767

New York

International Rescue Committee

$200,000

North Carolina

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

$197,871

Ohio

Central State University

$199,999

Oklahoma

Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative

$132,799

Oregon

Adelante Mujeres

$62,712

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

$199,950

Rhode Island

Souths Side Community Land Trust

$114,968

South Carolina

United Farmers USA, Inc.

$147,722

Tennessee

Tennessee State University

$155,133

Texas

Gleaning Network of Texas

$139,513

Texas

Prairie View A&M University

$200,000

Texas

University of Texas - Pan American

$199,995

Vermont

University of Vermont & State Agricultural College

$41,602

Virginia

Virginia State University

$200,000

Washington

Washington State University

$40,770

West Virginia

West Virginia State University

$199,793

Wisconsin

Linda & Gene Farley Center for Peace Justice and Sustainability

$197,816

Wisconsin

Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program

$88,816

Wisconsin

Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin

$199,645

 

Go here for more information from USDA.