REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $800,000 IN USDA SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS TO HELP CREATE NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, GROW LOCAL MARKETS
September 25, 2013
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson today announced a number of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) block grants totaling $802,141 to help support economic opportunities and grow local markets for specially crops. The grants, made through the 2013 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Program, will assist growers of specialty crops and help strengthen and expand markets for their products. The goal of the grant program is to promote and increase opportunities for specialty crop producers. The grants are paid for by the USDA with funds approved by Congress through the annual appropriations process.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and these investments will strengthen our district's specialty crop industry by supporting local markets, promoting quality products, and increasing the availability of freshly grown fruits and vegetables to schools and commercial buyers,” said Thompson.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is part of USDA's integrated approach to programs and policies that stimulate food- and agriculturally-based community economic development.
Grants that will benefit California's 5th Congressional District include:
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and these investments will strengthen our district's specialty crop industry by supporting local markets, promoting quality products, and increasing the availability of freshly grown fruits and vegetables to schools and commercial buyers,” said Thompson.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is part of USDA's integrated approach to programs and policies that stimulate food- and agriculturally-based community economic development.
Grants that will benefit California's 5th Congressional District include:
- $357,000 for the Sonoma Valley Vintners Association to increase wine consumer awareness of the high-quality wines from the Sonoma Valley American Viticultural Area through a marketing campaign that will include website redesign, social media and email campaigns, and print and online advertising.
- $55,120 for Solano Grown to promote and encourage purchases of local specialty crop products by developing an online farmers' market for Solano County specialty crop producers.
- $390,021 for North Coast Opportunities, Inc. to make more Lake and Mendocino County specialty crop products easily available to schools and other institutional and commercial buyers by creating a California specialty crop grower distribution hub. The Food Hub will handle only eligible specialty crops to ensure that grant funding supports only specialty crops.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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Issues:Wine & Agriculture