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Senator Baldwin Applauds USDA Investments in Wisconsin to Support Local Businesses, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Strengthen the Economy in Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is applauding investments in Wisconsin from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will support farmers, small businesses and rural communities across the state.

“This USDA federal funding from the Biden administration will go directly to farmers, producers and small businesses that are adding value to Wisconsin’s agriculture economy and our rural communities,” said Senator Baldwin. “These federal investments will help support innovation and entrepreneurship that generates new products, creates and expands marketing opportunities and increases producer income in rural communities. When we help rural businesses thrive, they spend more in the local community, and that helps create wealth that stays in rural communities. This is what rural development is all about.”

Baldwin, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, has worked to support the federal funding coming to Wisconsin, specifically the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program which helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The USDA is also delivering Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees, which improve the economic health of rural communities by increasing access to business capital through loan guarantees; and loans and grants from the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP), which provide aid to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to help microenterprises startup and grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund, and by provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Northern/North Central Wisconsin

Value-Added Producer Grant
Superior View Farms, LLC, Bayfield, WI, $250,000
Tri-State Lumber & Land, Inc., Trego, WI, $250,000
Holland's Family Cheese, LLC. Thorp, WI, $250,000
Cylon Rolling Acres, LLC, Deer Park, WI, $78,877
Cattail Organics, LLC, Athens, WI, $250,000
Joe Tomandl, Dairy Farmer, Medford, WI, $44,945 

Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees
Lotter Enterprises, Inc., Pickerel, WI, $156,600
Unified Science, LLC, St. Croix Falls, WI, $10,000,000
Anderson Maple Syrup, Inc., Cumberland, WI, $367,000

Northeast and Eastern Wisconsin

Value-Added Producer Grant
Kidfarm, LLC, Chilton, WI, $250,000
Lakeshore Forest Products, Inc., Francis Creek, WI, $250,000
Dream Apple Farm, LLC, Grafton, WI, $49,500
Olden Produce, LLC, Ripon, WI, $49,949
Three Sisters Community Farm, LLC, Campbellsport, WI, $49,784
Benjamin Jenkins, Jenkins Family Farm, Dalton, WI $33,670 

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
Advocap, Inc., Fond du Lac, WI, $19,903

Western and Southwest Wisconsin

Value-Added Producer Grant
Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby, WI, $250,000
Wisconsin Grass-Fed Beef Cooperative, Viroqua, WI, $250,000
Icon Meats, LLC, Cadott, WI, $250,000
Wisconsin Pork Association Cooperative, Lancaster, WI, $250,000
GW Organics, LLC, East Troy, WI, $250,000

South Central and Central Wisconsin

Value-Added Producer Grant
Driftless Dairies, LLC, Dodgeville, WI, $250,000
Keene Garlic, LLC, Madison, WI, $250,000
Riemer Family Farm, LLC, Brodhead, WI, $250,000
Katharine Kramer, Katharsis Meadows Farm, Blanchardville, WI, $30,545

Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantees
Octopi Brewing, LLC, Waunakee, WI, $3,849,150 

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
Cap Services, Inc., Stevens Point, WI, $75,293 

Southeast Wisconsin

Value-Added Producer Grant
Wisconsin Hop Exchange, Waterloo, WI, $250,000
White Oak Farm, LLC, Oconomowoc, WI, $34,250 

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, $70,068

A full list of awardees is available here

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