Catawba Farm And Food Coalition

THE CATAWBA FARM AND FOOD COALITION S FUNDING WILL SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL FARMERS IN RURAL AREAS AND CREATE MORE LOCAL, HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS FOR CONSUMERS LOCATED IN FOOD DESERTS. THIS PROJECT WILL CONNECT LOCAL FARMERS TO AN ALREADY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED ONLINE FARMERS MARKET AND YEAR ROUND BRICK AND MORTAR FARMERS MARKET STORE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE DESIGNED AND WORKING TO INCREASE PRODUCT SALES FOR LOCAL SOUTH CAROLINA FARMERS. IT WILL ALSO CREATE ACCESS TO A NEW MOBILE FRESH FOOD MARKET UTILIZING THE REFRIGERATED VAN OWNED BY THE COALITION. THROUGH WORKING IN RURAL AREAS WITH OUR PARTNERS, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO ALLOW GREATER ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD IN FOOD DESERTS THROUGHOUT THE UPSTATE AND PIEDMONT REGIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE CATAWBA FARM AND FOOD COALITION TO EXPAND ON CURRENT DELIVERY ROUTES AND PRODUCT PICK UP ROUTES THROUGH THE COUNTIES OF CHESTER, FAIRFIELD, LANCASTER, UNION, YORK AND THE CATAWBA INDIAN NATION. THE EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE PRODUCT SALES FOR LOCAL SOUTH CAROLINA FARMERS THROUGH MULTIPLE MARKET AVENUES AND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTS THROUGH DIRECT PRODUCER TO CONSUMER SALES AND PRODUCER TO RETAIL CONNECTIONS.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.