USDA Rural Development Acting Area Director Leann Gleason today announced a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) of $30,000 to the Take Root Café. The funds were used to purchase commercial kitchen equipment to assist with providing nourishing and local foods to the community.
“The food insecurity in this community is something that needs to be discussed. It not only needs to be discussed, but action must be taken to ensure this area has access to healthy, nourishing and high-quality food,” said Gleason. “Take Root is an excellent resource to the region. They provide local foods and healthy options on a pay-what-you-can basis so everyone can eat healthy. Rural Development is proud to be a partner in providing kitchen equipment so Take Root can continue to carry out this great mission.
Take Root is a nonprofit pay-what-you-can café joining 50 other cafes in the U.S. dedicated to ending hunger in our nation. Paying customers can pay a little extra or purchase a meal for someone else. Take Root of Kirksville was incorporated in October of 2015 through donations and fundraising events and they held their grand opening on December 2nd and 3rd of 2016. The commercial kitchen equipment purchased included a walk-in cooler/freezer and a commercial range hood.
The Rural Business Development Grant program is designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small emerging private businesses in rural areas. Further information on additional programs is available by visiting the USDA Missouri Rural Development website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/mo. Interested parties may also contact the Kirksville Area Office at (660) 665-3274, Ext 4.
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $216 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.