Davids Announces Funding to Support Agriculture Businesses and Create Jobs in Kansas’ Third District

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded nearly $300,000 to two local agricultural businesses through their Rural Development Awards program. This funding will create good-paying jobs, decrease food insecurity, and strengthen the economy in Kansas' Third District. Nationally, USDA's Rural Development programs are projected to help create or save more than 50,000 jobs in rural America through investments made in fiscal year 2021.

Recipients in the Kansas Third include:

• Kansas City Food Hub in Overland Park will receive $249,915 to expand their locally sourced fruit, vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, cheese, and eggs for retail sales. Funds will also be used to support staffing, expand the farm-share program, and establish an a-la-carte retail option.
• Pat & Rachel's Gardens in Olathe will receive $49,999 to expand their operation of selling canned, frozen, and freeze-dried vegetables, herbs, fruits, and soups. Funds will also be used to expand processing and marketing capacity.

"Access to fresh food is crucial in all parts of our state, urban and rural," said Davids. "The KC Food Hub and Pat & Rachel's Gardens are feeding our community and fueling our economy by bringing homegrown and locally-sourced foods to the Kansas City area all while focusing on sustainability. I am excited to announce these grants and will continue to advocate on behalf of all small businesses in our community."

"The Kansas City Food Hub is a farmer owned, farmer run cooperative. When individuals buy from the Kansas City Food Hub, they are purchasing directly from the farmers who own the business," said Teresa Kelly, Director of Operations, Kansas City Food Hub. "This funding will support a sales manager, giving the KC Food Hub focused capacity to build a new farm to fork sales platform linking farmers and consumers in our region. It also allows us to fulfill our plans to meet the increased demand from local consumers who have experienced pandemic related food chain disruptions. With this funding, we can continue toward our goal to build a stronger and more resilient local food economy by paying local farmers fairly, mentoring the next generation of farmers, and working together to create a more equitable food system."

"Pat & Rachels Gardens is pleased to have been awarded a matching Value Added Producer Grant from the USDA," said James Leek, Owner, Pat & Rachel's Gardens. "This grant will allow us to expand our licensed, certified organic kitchen so we can scale up production and reach more people. We currently serve our clients in Kansas and Missouri with quality, organically grown vegetables and fruit, soups, jams, freeze-dried herbs, and pickled products. The grant will also help us to expand our internet marketing and CSA membership."

Davids, a member of the House Committee on Small Business, has shown repeatedly that she fights on behalf of small business in the Kansas Third. Recently, she voted to pass major economic legislation aimed at addressing current supply chain issues and promoting long-term American competitiveness. The America COMPETES Act passed with Davids' amendment to ensure small and mid-sized manufacturers are given opportunities to participate in federal supply chain upgrades. Additionally, last year Davids announced over $524,000 in funding for farm training and business development in Kansas City.

Background:

The USDA Rural Development office provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. This month, the USDA announced $1.4 billion to help rural America keep resources and wealth at home. The 751 recipients of this grant span 49 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

The Kansas City Food Hub, previously known as Fresh Farm Headquarters Cooperative Association, was founded by the exact farmers who own, operate, and supply the organization. With over 300 years of collective growing experience, the KC Food Hub embodies the beliefs that have sustained American farmers for generations, and new ideas to address the world in which we live today. Their 19 small and medium-sized farmers are improving the economic viability of sustainable local agriculture by coordinating year-round production, supporting emerging growers, aggregating the distribution of product, and bringing farmers and buyers together in a community that benefits all.

Pat & Rachel's Gardens in Olathe, KS is one of the only certified organic processing facilities in the Kansas City area. As a member of the Kansas City Food Hub, this multi-generational farm supplies organic produce to the Community Mercantile in Lawrence, KS as well as local restaurants and school cafeterias. They also partner with NourishKC, a non-profit helping the food insecure in the Kansas City area, and After the Harvest, a non-profit who collect produce to donate to local food pantries. With decades of farming experience and tens of acres, Pat & Rachel's Gardens was named to honor two of the family's matriarch's children who passed away in 2008 and 2013. The farm has received many grants including the newly announced USDA Rural Development grant and a Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education USDA farmer-rancher grant in 2018 for research.