USDA Rural Development Partnership Helps Local Organizations Create, Expand Food Programs in Rural Kansas

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kansas Director Christy Davis has announced that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to help organizations strengthen local food financing programs and improve access to healthy foods in rural Kansas.

"Affordable, fresh and healthy food should be available regardless of where you live," Davis said. "The USDA is working to strengthen local and regional food systems so affordable, locally grown foods are available closer to home."

Reinvestment Fund has selected Kansas State University's Kansas Healthy Food Initiative partnership to receive a $3 million grant under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program to expand access to nutritious and affordable foods.

This announcement is part of a larger national announcement that includes projects in 19 other states and Washington, D.C.

The details of the Kansas project are a $2,997,242 grant will help Kansas State University's Kansas Healthy Food Initiative, a public-private partnership that aims to increase access to affordable, healthy food to improve the health and economic development of Kansans and their communities. Other partnership organizations include NetWork Kansas, IFF, Kansas Health Foundation and The Food Trust.

(Information courtesy USDA.)