Grants Awarded to Build Our Local Food Program

The Kansas Rural Center is thrilled to announce that two grants have been awarded to the Kansas Rural Center to continue and enhance the Our Local Food program in Kansas. A USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) and Risk Management Association (RMA) Grant will assist in further developing Our Local Food program resources such as subsidized membership fees, marketing guides, educational opportunities for producers and food businesses, an interactive website and online food hub development, and member tool kits.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant will, in addition, tie in Savor the Season, a program started in 2009 to help educate consumers about specific specialty crops and how to select, store, and prepare them. New crops will be selected and featured in 2012. Adding to the SCBG, RMA funding will allow the program to expand its resources, including webinars and workshops, for meat and animal product producers. Two more chapters will be added to the existing three, a South East and State Chapter which will enable the program to reach the entire state. Work outlined in the new grants has already begun and will focus primarily on organizing the new chapters and committees, website development, and preparing written guides before the new year. 

To stay updated with chapter news and events or to get in touch with a chapter coordinator near you visit our blog here or www.ourlocalfoodks.org.