Grant will support local food expansion in Northeast Nebraska

Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs was recently awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant from the Rural Business Development Grant program to support startup and expansion of rural small businesses. The grant will allow the Center for Rural Affairs to launch the “Rural Food Business Growth Project.”

As part of the project, the Center will sponsor a series of training sessions in Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Thurston and Wayne counties to help small and emerging businesses access and use value-added food processing facilities. A new hotline and online resource library will also be developed.
 
As a kickoff, the Center for Rural Affairs will hold an open house on Nov. 17, 2015, at the Nielsen Event Center in West Point, Nebraska. Attendees will learn more about the new project and the training sessions that are coming this fall and winter. They can also tour the commercial kitchen at the Nielsen Center, which is available to rent for food projects.
 
Farmers, gardeners, and farmers market vendors are encouraged to attend the open house. Those who are interested in bringing more local fresh foods or value-added products to retail, grocery and institutions are also welcome.
 
Anyone who is developing a food product for market and/or opening commercial kitchen space, and shared or community kitchen spaces for these uses in rural Nebraska is especially invited to attend the open house.
 
What: Rural Food Business Growth Project
 
When: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015
11 a.m - 6 p.m.
 
Where: Nielsen Event Center
200 Anna Stalp Ave.
West Point, NE
 
Attendees will be able to sample local foods, ask questions and address issues and challenges they’ve faced, along with successes they’ve had with expanding their food/food processing business and what resources they are in need of.
 
This workshop is sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs. Funding for the project is provided in part by USDA Rural Development.