Release Date: January 29, 2018
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Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 richard.hummell@wi.gov
or Bill Cosh,
Communications Director, 608-224-5020 William2.Cosh@wi.gov
MADISON – Farmers, groups
and businesses involved in Wisconsin’s food industry who are seeking to grow
their local markets are encouraged to apply for grants now available through
the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant program.
Since its inception in 2008, the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant
program has generated more than $9.4 million in new local food sales. Managed
by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
(DATCP), the grants can help farms and business more efficiently process,
market and distribute food in local markets including stores, schools and
institutions.
“Just as a wide variety of foods makes for a healthy diet, a
variety of farms and agribusinesses makes for a healthy economy,” said BLBW
program manager Kietra Olson. “We encourage growers, processors and
distributors of diverse products to apply, and we look forward to funding some
innovative ideas.”
Proposals must be received at DATCP by 4 p.m. March 9, 2018.
Each proposal must include a cover page, a completed budget template and
three-page project description. The necessary documents can be found online at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/BuyLocalBuyWisconsin.aspx.
Recipients will be announced in May, 2018.
A total of $200,000 is available in grant funding; the maximum
award for each project is $50,000. Grant applicants must provide a cash or
in-kind match of at least 50 percent of the total project budget.
Qualified applicants include individuals, groups or businesses
involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food
distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments or agricultural
tourism operations. Proposals could include collaborations or partnerships.
Since 2008, DATCP has awarded 52 BLBW grants for a total of
$1.4 million. The program has resulted in more than 200 jobs retained or
created and has benefited more than 2,700 producers.
Anyone with questions about the application process can contact
DATCP’s Buy Local Buy Wisconsin program manager Kietra Olson at 608-224-5112 or
Kietra.Olson@Wisconsin.gov.
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