USDA awards $25 million to help 247 rural businesses expand and create new products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that it is investing $25 million to help 247 rural businesses in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Micronesia expand their operations and create new products, said a press release from the agency. The funding "helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products."

The grants, through the agency's Value-Added Producer Grant program, can be used to "support local and regional food systems, further the development of the growing bioeconomy and finance the distribution of local and regional products," said the USDA. For a full list of grant recipients, click here.