The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is looking for public input on a draft application for the Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. Feedback can be provided by joining one of four virtual input sessions or through an online form available until December 12, 2022. Feedback shared during this process will inform the final application process for this competitive grant program, which is expected to be released in winter 2023.
The goal of the LFPA program is to purchase local food from socially disadvantaged farmers and distribute this food to underserved communities throughout the state. The draft application outlines the proposed requirements and application process for this program and funding. Feedback is welcome from potential applicants to the program along with others interested in community food systems, including farmers, food hubs, economic development agencies, and hunger relief networks.
The public input sessions will be held at the following times using Zoom. The same information will be presented at each session.
November 30, 2022
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Register
December 1, 2022
12-1 p.m.
Register
December 7, 2022
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Register
December 8, 2022
1-2 p.m.
Register
Minnesota’s $3.82 million LFPA funds are available as part of a cooperative agreement program that the MDA has signed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
A new grant opportunity from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) helps Minnesota schools looking to establish or enhance meat cutting and butchery training for secondary students.
The Meat Education and Training (MEAT) Grant Program will award about $350,000 in onetime funding from the Minnesota Legislature to secondary career and technical education programs (public or private schools or school districts) to fund equipment, facility renovation, curriculum development, faculty training, and more.
“The past few years have clearly shown that expanded meat processing capacity is important for the health of Minnesota’s livestock industry and to give consumers more choices,” Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “To get there, we need more butchers and meat cutters. This investment will expose students to these in-demand positions.”
Applicants may request a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum of $70,000 per project. Up to 10% of each grant may be used for faculty training; there is no matching funds requirement.
MEAT grants will be awarded through a competitive review process. Priority will be given to applicants that collaborate with meat cutting and butchery programs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and/or local industry partners. The MDA expects 5 to 10 grants to be awarded, depending on award size.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Applications must be submitted through the MDA’s online application system.
Contacts for more information and additional eligibility requirements are available on the MDA’s MEAT Grant webpage.
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
Agricultural Chemical Investigators
Agricultural Chemical Investigators (ACIs) visit farms, nurseries, greenhous