In Visit to Columbus, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Investments in Local Urban Agriculture

By temporary On May 18, 2024 36

COLUMBUS, Georgia, May 17, 2024 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited the Turn Around Columbus, a nonprofit in Columbus, Georgia, focused on investing in youth development and learning opportunities to build the next generation of entrepreneurs, farmers, and community leaders. There, he highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to create more, new and better markets, generate new revenue, and ensure agriculture in Georgia communities and nationwide.

Secretary Vilsack joined U.S. Representative Sanford D. Bishop (GA-2) for a tour of Turn Around Columbus and announced $145,000 in funding for the organization. This funding comes from a $1.5 million grant awarded to the University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the new Urban County Committee pilot program.

“Urban producers play a critical role in the agricultural economy,” Secretary Vilsack said. “We are committed to supporting all producers no matter their age or the size and location of their operations. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has provided unprecedented support to create new markets and additional revenue opportunities, especially for small and mid-sized producers, for those in Georgia and beyond.”

The subgrant will help Turn Around Columbus expand their existing educational programming, training and marketing efforts. They will also purchase additional equipment and supplies that increase the size and scope of the operation in support of their mission of community and youth development in Columbus.

USDA has many programs that are working to create more, new and better markets for both urban and rural producers in Georgia, including:

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.