NM allocates more than US$4 million to support the agricultural industry

NEW MEXICO – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), they have launched a survey to help identify infrastructure priorities that can be addressed with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

From the city of Las Cruces, EDD pointed that for program purposes, infrastructure includes – but is not limited to – facilities, structures, equipment and storage needed to address half of the food supply chain for food crops.

New Mexico anticipates receiving US$4.6 million in funding to assist the state’s agriculture industry with infrastructure needs through the USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant program.

The purpose of the program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; provide more and better markets for small farms and food businesses; and support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and secure employment opportunities.

The goal of the grant program is to keep profits flowing into rural communities and increase diversity in processing options in terms of business model approaches, geography and availability to underserved communities.

States and territories will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive subgrants to support infrastructure in the middle of the supply chain for domestic food and agribusinesses and other eligible entities. States – including New Mexico – and territories will be able to use a limited portion of the funds to develop and/or strengthen supply chain coordination and market development services specific to local and regional products.

Once funding priorities are established, those involved in the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesale and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy and dairy products, food grains, aquaculture and other food products, excluding meat and poultry, may apply. Grant applications are expected to be available in September.