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USDA invests in NC A&T State agriculture business innovation

NC A&T State University agriculture business innovation center will serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities nationwide.

Farm Press Staff

June 13, 2022

1 Min Read
NC A&T_ Kathleen Liang  Connie Locklear.jpg
Dr. Kathleen, Liang, right, a co-project director of the Agriculture Business Innovation Center at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (NC A&T) State University in Greensboro, works with Pembroke, N.C. vegetable farmer on documentation on her farm.NC A&T

USDA on June 8 announced a $1.92 million investment to establish an Agriculture Business Innovation Center at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a Historically Black College and University located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“This new innovation center will serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities nationwide,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh.

Bronaugh said this latest investment will expand the capacity of our nation’s HBCUs to advance multidisciplinary teaching, outreach and integrated projects to build better markets, enhance economic development and support new and existing agricultural businesses.

The FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Section 766 (Public Law 116-260) authorized USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to issue a competitive grant to support the establishment of an Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an HBCU.

The new center will enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities including:

  • Providing technical assistance to food and agricultural producers, offering production scale assessments, market planning and development, business planning and other advisory services.

  • Assisting startups in agribusiness including planning and obtaining funding.

  • Providing workforce development and educational experiences for students interested in careers in agriculture business.

  • Offering outreach services and activities such as training, workshops and dissemination of information and materials.

 

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