Winneshiek County Extension Office receives $90,000 grant

Winneshiek County Extension has been awarded a $90,000 USDA Rural Development Rural Business Enterprise Grant.

Funds will be used to hire an agricultural economic development coordinator to help expand market opportunities for local foods in northeast Iowa.  The Extension program will hire a "Food Value Chain Coordinator" to lead discussions on product aggregation and distribution and to help farmers develop new products and identify new partners and markets for their products.

The funds are provided through USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant program. Under the program, USDA Rural Development helps finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging private business enterprises. Grant funds are awarded to intermediaries to support revolving loan funds or provide technical assistance.

For more information, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/winneshiek.