More than $1.8 million will be invested in Alaska’s agricultural economy through two new U.S. Department of Agriculture grant programs – the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program and the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant.
The Alaska Division of Agriculture awarded more than $1.6 million through the Food Security Program, which is part of the 2018 Farm Bill that created a special program for improvements to food security in places including Alaska. It helps individuals and organizations increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food insecure communities through small-scale, agricultural-related projects. Over 2,300 pre-applications and more than 1,000 proposals for funding in the inaugural year of the program were received with 234 approved for funding.
The Division focused funding on projects critical for food security, with a priority on Alaska’s critical rural supply chain. The USDA approved 60+ grants totaling more than $360,000 for greenhouse projects; 40+ grants totaling over $320,000 for gardening proposals; almost 30 grants totaling over $260,000 for proposals related to storage facilities; and 25+ grants totaling $145,000 for fencing projects.
The Division of Agriculture also announced that Mat Valley Meats in Wasilla was awarded $200,000 through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. The Food Security Program was designed to help existing meat processors upgrade slaughter facilities so that the plant(s) meat USDA inspection requirements. A proposal to upgrade current Mat Valley Meats facilities and purchase a mobile slaughter unit was approved earlier this month.
The Division will provide additional grant opportunities through the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, anticipated to be available February 2022. Information for the next opportunity will be available through the Division of Agriculture’s Grants web page.
