The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is a part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative to strengthen critical supply chains and our food system. This program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. https://www.rd.usda.gov/food-supply-chain-guaranteed-loans

North Dakota USDA Rural Development will be hosting a Rural Business Development Grant Program webinar for those interested in the FY22 application cycle on December 17, 2021 at 10:00 am CT. The webinar will be offered again on December 20, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. CT. RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities. More information on the RBDG Program is available by visiting: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants If you wish to attend one of the webinars, please email: Nancy.wilkens@usda.gov or Jill.haakenson@usda.gov to receive an invite to the webinar.