Pennsylvania Association For Sustainable Agriculture

TO PRIORITIZE PRODUCER SUPPORT TO DEVELOP SUSTAINED METHODS FOR EXPANSION OF MARKETS FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS; PRIORITIZING NEW MARKETS, IMPROVING SUPPLY CHAINS, AND ENABLE DIRECT TO CONSUMER SALES, THEREBY IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS; AND PRIORITIZE METHODS TO IMPROVE FARMERS COLLECTIVE RESOURCE SHARING, ACCESS TO MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROMOTION OF LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE AMPLIFICATION OF MARKET EXPANSION.

WITH SUPPORT FROM 6 STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, 14 NONPROFIT FARM WORKER AND SOCIAL SERVICESORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS FARM MANAGERS AND MEATPACKING PLANT ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS A 14 STATE REGION,PASA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WILL BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF TWO PRIOR COVID RELIEF FUNDING PROJECTS. WITHSTRONG REGIONAL SUPPORT FROM ORGANIZATIONS COVERING ALL 14 STATES, AND SUBAWARDEES MANO EN MANO INMAINE AND JUSTICE AT WORK IN PENNSYLVANIA, OUR PROJECT WILL ENSURE THAT 84 OF FEDERAL DOLLARS DIRECTLYREACH FARM WORKERS AND MEATPACKING WORKERS IN NEED.WITH A 31 YEAR HISTORY OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, FARMER RESEARCH PROJECTS AND RESOURCE SHARING FORFARMERS, FARM WORKERS, AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS, PASA IS WELL POSITIONED TO MEET THIS PROJECT SOBJECTIVES. THE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE ACCESSIBLE OUTREACH TO 216,000 POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES DISTRIBUTINGRELIEF FUNDS TO 52,100 ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES ENSURING FISCAL CONTROLS AND PREVENTING FRAUD AND, INCLUDINGIN OUR FINAL REPORT A SET OFRECOMMENDATIONS FOR USDA S CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE SERVICE DELIVERY.ALL COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE CREATED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITH TRANSLATION INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE INTHIRTEEN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES. TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AT IN PERSON EVENTS,THROUGH EMAIL, VIRTUAL ONE ON ONE MEETINGS, TOLL FREE PHONE SUPPORT, TEXT MESSAGING, AND WHATSAPP.APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH A SECURE ONLINE SITE OR IN PERSON. PASA WILL ACT AS THE CLEARINGHOUSEFOR ALL APPLICATIONS AND PAYMENT PROCESSES, ENSURING STRONG FISCAL AND SECURITY CONTROLS, AND PROVIDINGBEST PRACTICES AROUND BANKING SECURITY, FRAUD PREVENTION, AND EQUITABLE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS FORBENEFICIARIES THROUGH PAPER CHECKS, ACH PAYMENTS, AND PRE LOADED DEBIT CARDS.

THIS EDA INVESTMENT CONNECTS ALL ASPECTS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CHAINS TO IMPORT PARTNER DATABASES AND EXPAND THE MAPPING SYSTEM INHERENT TO THE PROJECT, ALLOWING FOR FULL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SINGULAR SITE. THIS CLEARINGHOUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES WILL EMPOWER AUTONOMOUS DECISION-MAKING AND INCREASE THE ABILITY OF THOSE ACROSS THE AGRICULTURE CONTINUUM TO PIVOT WITHIN THE MARKET; PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO ECONOMIC INJURY WHILE INCREASING MID-TIER VALUE CHAINS. THE PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH THE NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENGAGE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERANFARMERS AND RANCHERS THROUGH FARM TRAININGS, CURATED LISTENING SESSIONSAND FACILITATION OF AFFINITY GROUPS TO DRIVE APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS,MENTORSHIP, AND CONNECTIONS WITH FSA AND USDA PROGRAM RESOURCES.

GROWING A COMMUNITY OF SUSTAINABLE, GRASS-BASED DAIRY FARMERS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC THROUGH FORMAL APPRENTICESHIP

EVALUATING, RENOVATING AND STRENGTHENING PENNSYLVANIA`S BEGINNING FARMER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

MAKING MARKETS THRIVE: BROADENING THE REACH OF BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL IN PENNSYLVANIA

IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF A WELL-DESIGNED AND WELL-FUNCTIONING SILVOPASTURE CONSERVATION PRACTICE WILL PROMOTE ANIMAL HEALTH AND HELP ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

THIS PROJECT WILL PRESENT A SERIES OF TEN FARM BASED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS TWO INTENSIVE LEARNING SESSIONS AND UP TO SIX CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS DELIVE

VALUE- ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

THIS PROJECT WILL PRESENT A SERIES OF FARM BASED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS TO SUPPORT TRANSITION EFFORTS BY MINOR FOOD CROP GROWERS TO MORE ENVIRONMENTAL

DEMONSTRATE THAT ALLEY CROPPING CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE FINANCAL AND CONSERVATION SUCCESS OF ARABLE FARM OPERATIONS

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: EMPOWERING PENNSYLVANIA FARMERS TO BUILD RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE WILL

SETTING AND EXCEEDING COMMUNITY BENCHMARKS FOR SOIL HEALTH