On Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated its Regional Food Business Centers (RFBC) program. The program, which centered around supporting the growth of farming and food businesses, was started, according to the USDA, during the pandemic using one-time, temporary funding from Congress.

This week, the USDA announced in a press release that “the Biden Administration created multiple, massive programs without any long-term way to finance them. This is not sustainable for farmers who rely on these programs, and it flies in the face of Congressional intent.”

The program created 12 RFBC programs that reflected different regions and parts of the United States.

According to the Alaska Food Policy Council (AFPC), Alaska was a part of the Islands and Remote Areas Business Center, which included Hawaii and all territories. Through the RFBC program, AFPC stated that Alaska’s food system economy was initially provided with $7 million in funding. The funding was aimed at assisting individuals in growing their farming and food businesses.

“This program was focused specifically postproduction and onward, so we couldn’t help you grow your crops, but we could help you learn how to market it, learn how to bring in more resources to help you grow your business,” Robbi Mixon, with the AFPC, said.

According to Mixon, Alaska still had an additional three years left on the program and $6 million left to spend on technological assistance, business builder grants, and assistance activities.

Mixon said the cancellation of the program means that farming and food businesses will lose access to things like expected grants, networking opportunities, and business support.

“They’re losing access to all of that. They’re losing access to technical assistance. They’re losing access to critical investment into their business,” Mixon said.

According to the USDA only eight out of the 12 RFBC’s were selected or had issued a Business Builder grants. The USDA adding that, “USDA will honor current and pending commitments to producers and food businesses through the Business Builder subaward program.” Alaska, along with the Great Lakes Midwest RFBC, Southeast RFBC, and Delta RFBC, were not part of that list and USDA said, it would be terminated.

“While the funding goes way, we know the need does not disappear,” Mixon said. “I think that our farmers and fishers here are among the most resilient in the nation. They are used to challenges. I think people will continue to be the scrappy business folks that they are.”

Alaska’s News Source reached out to the USDA for an interview regarding the program’s termination but did not hear back as of publication.

Source - https://www.alaskasnewssource.com