Big news for local farmers! A $2 million grant is set to supercharge food supply chains in the heartland.
BOLIVAR, Mo. — New Growth, a rural farm business assistance organization, has landed a significant $2 million grant from the Patterson Family Foundation. This funding comes at a critical time as the organization aims to enhance local food supply chains after previous funding cuts. The initiative seeks to empower middle-market farmers and bolster rural entrepreneurship.
One of the pivotal projects, the Heartland Regional Business Center, emerged from a now-terminated USDA grant. Although the funding was cut, New Growth identified an ongoing demand for programs that support local farmers in creating effective supply chains. The Patterson grant is designed to revive this initiative, focusing on technological assistance for food businesses and specialty crop growers across Missouri and Kansas.
“Local food isn’t as localized as we might assume,” said Sheridan Garman-Neeman, CEO of New Growth. “It spans a much larger area. By strengthening the regional food system, we can ensure that everyone has access to healthy food. This initiative becomes even more vital in the event of disruptions to global supply chains, allowing us to maintain a steady flow of local food.”
A portion of the grant, specifically $1 million, is earmarked for distribution to other farming and food organizations through New Growth’s own grant program. The aim is to enhance these organizations’ abilities to bring local products to market effectively. Garman-Neeman pointed out that much of the assistance in the U.S. tends to favor large commodity crop growers participating in global markets. “We want to focus on smaller farms that cultivate specialty crops,” she explained, emphasizing lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic when grocery store shelves were often bare.
The grant will also facilitate market development and business counseling for farmers unfamiliar with how to navigate local supply chains. “In many rural areas, there’s a lack of infrastructure and workforce necessary to attract larger firms or even retain smaller businesses,” Garman-Neeman noted. “To make our communities appealing for residents and entrepreneurs, we need a diverse economy. Strong local businesses are what truly make a place special.”
With this grant, New Growth aims to support around 500 small businesses, creating opportunities in the local agricultural sector and helping to build a resilient food supply chain.
