Senator Stabenow Announces Federal Funds to Support Local Food Producers in Southwest Michigan

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced that Kalamazoo Valley Community College will receive $607,115 to support local food producers and improve supply chains in Southwest Michigan. This investment comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Local Food Promotion Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, which Senator Stabenow co-authored.

“When we produce food here, we create jobs here in Michigan,” said Senator Stabenow. “Access to strong and resilient local food networks is a win-win for families and our economy.”

"We are looking forward to linking the local and regional food supply chain support that our food hub offers with quality education and technical training from the College. This combination will help food businesses in southwest Michigan thrive," said Rachel Chadderdon Bair, MS, MPH, Director for Sustainable Food Systems, Kalamazoo Valley Community College Bronson Healthy Living Campus.

Building on the success of its ValleyHUB food hub, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will use these funds to increase staff capacity and scale-up its business model to meet the rising demand for local and regionally produced agricultural products in larger institutions and organizations.

Senator Stabenow secured permanent funding in the 2018 Farm Bill for the Local Food Promotion Program.

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