Family farm center granted nearly $400,000

9/20/2005

The Ohio Farmers Union Family Farm Center Inc. announced yesterday it will receive two grant awards worth nearly $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program is providing $298,000 to the farm center to enhance economic opportunities in rural Ohio by assisting farmers and small businesses in the development of cooperatives and to promote cooperative activities.

The farm center will also receive a $99,999 USDA rural business enterprise grant to establish a revolving loan fund in six Ohio counties: Ottawa, Erie, Huron, Sandusky, Seneca, and Crawford. Loans will be available for farmers and small businesses to develop value-added ventures related to agriculture.