High Priority Issues

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ACCESSIBILITY

Make local foods more accessible to food insecure populations by creating new markets in small, rural communities and increasing connectivity between rural producers and urban consumers.

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EXPANSION

Build and expand markets both within and outside of Central Appalachia; e.g., by strengthening infrastructure for aggregation, distribution, and processing.

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CAPACITY

Build capacity among small- and medium-sized farms and food businesses, processors, and food hubs through expanded training and technical assistance and Business Builder grants.

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SUPPORT

 Prioritize supporting historically marginalized businesses by providing access to resources and grants that will help scale their enterprise and increase profitability.

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COORDINATE

Coordinate with other USDA Regional Food Business Centers to promote cross-regional support, partnership, and market development.