HARTFORD, Conn. — New one-on-one business technical assistance and grant coaching is available to Connecticut’s agriculture industry, according to a release Friday from the state’s Department of Agriculture.
The assistance will benefit producers, food businesses and nonprofits sourcing farm products grown in-state. CT DoAg said it is using funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant Program to contract with three separate entities. It will allow the department to provide a variety of services such as market diversification and development, supply chain coordination and business and financial planning.
“Offering these services is critical to supporting Connecticut’s agricultural community to ensure they have the tools and resources available to improve the state’s food supply chain, build strong businesses and increase the resiliency of our food system,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said in the release.
Hurlburt added that by supporting supply chain coordination and technical assistance in processing, aggregation and distribution, the department is working hard to increase assess to expanded and improved markets for farmers.
The three entities listed in the release are the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, or CT SBDC, Carrot Project, and the New England Farmers of Color Land Trust, or NEFOC. According to CT DoAg, each will have specific areas of assistance for program participants.
CT SBDC will help with business advising and planning as well as grant writing assistance prior to application submissions, focused on DoAg programs, the release said. It will also support farm/food system businesses by providing access to all appropriate CT SBDC services.
CT DoAg said these services include advising in business and product strategy, access to financing, financial management, accessing markets and customers and other areas as needed. The services also include providing extensive assistance to those who are more specifically looking for assistance on the market side of their business, including getting into new markets, creating value added products and assisting producers with a marketing strategy.
According to the release, CT SBDC will also help leverage its proprietary and licensed business management tools and databases, assist clients in strategies to diversify their products and market outlets and provide access to CT SBDC’s Business Financial Literacy and Credit Counselling and Immigrant Entrepreneur Assistance Programs. Click here to complete the CT SBDC intake form.
The Carrot Project will offer access to capital, grant and loan readiness, CT DoAg said. It will also provide one-on-one business technical assistance, training and resources to improve business decision-making and strengthen financial positions. Email jcole@thecarrotproject.org to get started.
NEFOC supports BIPOC producers and agricultural organizations who seek holistic technical assistance, according to the release. One can get started by emailing gaby@nefoclandtrust.org.
Agriculture producers or agribusinesses interested in working with any of the listed organizations can contact them directly or reach out to Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov, 860-895-3094.
CT DoAg said that through an agreement with USDA, Connecticut has more than $2.1 million available in competitive grant funding for projects meant to strengthen resilience across the middle of the supply chain. The RFSI grant program will open the second round of funding next February. For more information, click here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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