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USDA Rural Development Celebrates Town’s Opening of New Farmer’s Market

Name
Kathy Smith
City
Ashland City
Release Date

USDA Rural Development Assistant to State Director Harriet Cannon performed a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of Ashland City’s newly built Farmer’s Market today.

 

“USDA recently celebrated National Farmers Market Week to acknowledge the contributions that local farm families make to the economy and their communities,” Cannon said. “Investments to expand the demand for locally grown produce provides new business opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs in rural communities.”

 

Last year, the Town of Ashland City received a Rural Business Development Grant of $66,523 in addition to funds of $118,246 from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to assist the construction of a Farmer’s Market. This project will create new farmer and vendor jobs, give local farmers a venue to sell their products to the public and provide the community with a central location to purchase fresh, locally grown products.

 

Others participating in the event include State Senator Kerry Roberts, State Representative Mary Littleton, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Jai Templeton, Ashland City Mayor Rick Johnson, and UT Extension County Director Ronnie Barron.

 

USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty.  Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than $1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Central Tennessee contact the Nashville Area Office at 615-783-1359, or 800-342-3149 x 1359. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.