USDA increases total funding available for Tribes, gives current cooperators more time to enact programs, non-participants more time to apply
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced that it has signed a cooperative agreement with the Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern division under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) programme.
LFPA empowers states, tribes, and territories through cooperative agreements to provide for their communities with the purchase of domestic local foods in support of local, regional, and underserved and tribal farmers and ranchers. In September, Secretary Vilsack announced that USDA is providing an additional nearly $500 million of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for this program, bringing the total funds for this program to nearly $900 million.
USDA further announces a series of new flexibilities to support our states, tribes, and territories. States, territories and tribes not currently participating in this program will be able to apply, and current recipients will be allowed to extend their programs an extra year. In addition, in response to tribal needs and input, USDA will use a nationwide funding allocation of $100 million to better support tribal applicants and better consider the needs across Indian Country. Twenty-five tribes participated in the first funding round, and with this new opportunity, AMS will be seeking additional proposals from other tribes. State and territory agencies will continue to receive funds consistent with initial LFPA allocations.
Under Secretary Moffitt and USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson announce the funding for the first tribe in the Mid-Atlantic region during a visit with the Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division, in Providence Forge, Va. The Tribe recently signed a cooperative agreement with USDA and will receive more than $446,000 to support food sovereignty efforts by purchasing and distributing locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved and tribal producers. With the LFPA funds, the Tribe will purchase local meats and produce from farms in their area which will improve their local agricultural community and raise awareness about the benefits of purchasing local.
“USDA is thrilled to partner with the Chickahominy Indian Tribe Eastern Division to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers. The LFPA program is an exciting new tool for Tribal nations looking to support their indigenous food sovereignty initiatives and local producers,” Director Thompson said.
