USDA Announces $10.2 Million in Supplemental Grant Funding

Funds support projects that promote the maple syrup industry, strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is awarding over $10.2 million in supplemental grant funding to 28 projects to promote the maple syrup industry, expand new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products, and increase access to locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity. The funding is awarded through the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer), the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP).

To ensure continuity of ongoing projects and timely obligation of funds, this year's funding was awarded to active Acer and FSMIP recipients and active and past MGFSP recipients who elected to participate.

Acer promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. Acer funding is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and funded through annual appropriations.

FSMIP funds projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system. The program is authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and funded by annual appropriations.

MGFSP funds projects that increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. MGFSP recipients will subaward funding to projects that support communities that have significant levels of food insecurity and import significant quantities of food. MGFSP is funded through the 2018 Farm Bill.

To learn more about AMS's investments in enhancing and strengthening agricultural systems, visit https://www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

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