Murkowski: $2 Million Announced by USDA to Support Agriculture in Alaska
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award $2 million to the Alaska Division of Agriculture for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP), which will be available to fund grants for eligible Alaskans next calendar year.
“Alaska mports about 95 percent of the food we eat, and far too many Alaskans face food insecurity. That’s why I created the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program in 2018 – to ensure more Alaskans have greater access to healthy, affordable, locally grown options. The need for this program has only grown due to the continuing supply chain problems and high inflation, forcing more and more Alaskans to live off of cheaper, mass-produced imports rather than nutrient dense, fresh foods that could be grown at home.” said Senator Murkowski. “Since the program’s inception, the Alaska Division of Agriculture has received over $6 million for the MGFSP and funded projects by 770 individuals and 116 non-profit organizations and local communities. I’m working hard to plus-up funding for this program in Fiscal Year 2023 in hopes that even more Alaskans will reap similar benefits.”
Background:
Senator Murkowski created MGFSP via the 2018 Farm Bill to help increase food security in the non-contiguous states and territories. Due to her work as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congress has funded MGFSP in Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, and 2022. As a result, Alaskans, Hawaiians, and citizens of the U.S. Territories may apply to their respective state agriculture agencies for grant funding to strengthen small-scale, agriculture related projects, and improve opportunities to produce locally-grown food. Senator Murkowski is continuing to advocate for robust funding for the program in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill.
Program Eligibility:
Individuals are eligible to receive up to $5,000 per year and Indian tribes and tribal organizations, non-profit organizations, federally-funded educational facilities, and local and tribal governments that may not levy local taxes are eligible to receive up to $10,000.
MGFSP funds may be used for any activities that will increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food for food insecure individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities such as: to purchase items necessary to grow and store food; expanding areas under cultivation or extend the growing season; hydroponic and aeroponic farming; building, buying, erecting or repairing fencing for livestock, poultry, and reindeer; purchasing and equipping a slaughter and processing facility; traveling to participate in agricultural education; paying for shipping for items related to growing or raising food; creating or expanding avenues for the sale of local food; and engaging in other activities related to increasing food security (including subsistence).
More info is at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/mgfsp and http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/ag_grants.htm.
