WASHINGTON (WTXL) — Businesses in north Florida and south Georgia were awarded grants from the United States Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.
According to a news release, Leon County Florida's Orchard Pond Organics, LLC ($236,276 and $13,724) along with Georgia’s Goodson Pecans, LLC ($250,000), Georgia Organic Peanut Association, Inc. ($250,000), Southern Pasture Power, LLC ($250,000), Longleaf Ridge Farms, LLC ($250,000), New Communities at [Cypress] Pond ($250,000), Warrior Creek Premium Meats, LLC ($250,000), American Turmeric Company, Inc. ($250,000), JRE Services, LLC dba Rocking Chair Ranch ($250,000), Great American Cobbler Company ($250,000), along with Jackson County, Florida's Southern Grape Company, LLC ($49,999) and Southern Craft Products, LLC ($49,999) secured Value Added Producer grants.
According to the USDA, the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products.
Preferred Rental Company LLC, which is located in Hamilton County, Florida, was awarded a $4,280,000 USDA Business & Industry loan.
The USDA notes the loan program offers loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses.
The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.
The USDA notes, a total of $1.4 billion will be invested into businesses by the USDA among 49 states and territories the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to foster a diverse rural America to keep resources and wealth at home.
