PULLMAN, Wash., Oct. 28, 2010 – USDA Rural Business Service Administrator Judith Canales today announced $348,310 in grant funding to the Rural Community Development Resources Center for Latino Farmers and Ranchers. The award is being made through the Outreach Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Competitive Grants Program, also known as the "2501 program."

"USDA and the Obama administration are committed to creating opportunities for Americans from all backgrounds," said Canales. "These grants will help develop programs to ensure that minority landowners have access to a full range of USDA programs, helping them increase their profitability and stay on the farm."

Rural Community Development Resources funding will provide outreach and technical assistance to Hispanic and Latino farmers and ranchers in the East Central Washington counties of Yakima, Benton, Adams, Okanogan, Grant, Chelan, Douglas and Franklin, which have agricultural-based economies, increasing Latino/Hispanic population and been designated as economically depressed. This project will collect data, identify barriers to accessing USDA services and programs through focus groups and training session and identify the type of educational workshops or trainings that are necessary for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The primary purpose of the grant being made available through the "2501 program" is to enhance the coordination of outreach, technical assistance and education efforts to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. These grants enable organizations to help farmers and ranchers successfully acquire, own, operate and retain farms and ranches and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. Local and regional impacts include participants setting up production and marketing cooperatives, improving environmental quality and improving their profitability and sustainability.

Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan, grant, or loan/grant agreement.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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