Murkowski: $2 Million Announced by USDA to Support Agriculture in Alaska | U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

09.02.22

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) at this time introduced that the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) will award $2 million to the Alaska Division of Agriculture for the Micro-Grants for Meals Safety Program (MGFSP), which shall be accessible to fund grants for eligible Alaskans subsequent calendar 12 months.

“Alaska  mports about 95 % of the meals we eat, and much too many Alaskans face meals insecurity. That’s why I created the Micro-Grants for Meals Safety Program in 2018 – to make sure extra Alaskans have better entry to wholesome, reasonably priced, regionally grown choices. The necessity for this program has solely grown as a result of persevering with provide chain issues and excessive inflation, forcing an increasing number of Alaskans to dwell off of cheaper, mass-produced imports relatively than nutrient dense, recent meals that might be grown at residence.” stated Senator Murkowski. “Because the program’s inception, the Alaska Division of Agriculture has acquired over $6 million for the MGFSP and funded tasks by 770 people and 116 non-profit organizations and native communities. I’m working onerous to plus-up funding for this program in Fiscal 12 months 2023 in hopes that much more Alaskans will reap comparable advantages.”

Background:

Senator Murkowski created MGFSP by way of the 2018 Farm Invoice to assist enhance meals safety within the non-contiguous states and territories. On account of her work as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congress has funded MGFSP in Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, and 2022. In consequence, Alaskans, Hawaiians, and residents of the U.S. Territories might apply to their respective state agriculture companies for grant funding to strengthen small-scale, agriculture associated tasks, and enhance alternatives to supply locally-grown meals. Senator Murkowski is constant to advocate for strong funding for this system within the Fiscal 12 months 2023 invoice.

Program Eligibility:

People are eligible to obtain as much as $5,000 per 12 months and Indian tribes and tribal organizations, non-profit organizations, federally-funded academic amenities, and native and tribal governments that won’t levy native taxes are eligible to obtain as much as $10,000.

MGFSP funds could also be used for any actions that can enhance the amount and high quality of regionally grown meals for meals insecure people, households, neighborhoods, and communities corresponding to: to buy gadgets essential to develop and retailer meals; increasing areas underneath cultivation or lengthen the rising season; hydroponic and aeroponic farming; constructing, shopping for, erecting or repairing fencing for livestock, poultry, and reindeer; buying and equipping a slaughter and processing facility; touring to take part in agricultural schooling; paying for transport for gadgets associated to rising or elevating meals; creating or increasing avenues for the sale of native meals; and fascinating in different actions associated to growing meals safety (together with subsistence).

Extra data is at https://www.ams.usda.gov/companies/grants/mgfsp and http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/ag_grants.htm.