U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director, Kenneth Corn, announced today a $2.3 million loan to assist with the purchase of and improvements to a cold storage facility and warehouse located in Enid.
This announcement is part of a 19-state investment in creating new and better markets for agricultural producers and food businesses in rural America. Nearly $320 million will be invested to create more opportunities for producers and ultimately lower inflationary pressures for Americans purchasing every day needs at the grocery store.
“President Biden is not only standing up for our farmers and ranchers by expanding capacity and produce more revenue streams for them, but he is also waging a winning strategy of lowering costs for everyday Oklahomans when shopping at their favorite local corner store,” Corn said. “The past three years have proven to us that we must invest in food security. These investments show the commitment the Biden-Harris Administration has in recognizing the important role rural Oklahomans and Americans play in building a resilient economy by investing in every stop of the food supply chain for our agriculture producers.”
Today’s announcement in Enid will support Commercial Rental Property LLC, which use the funds to expand cold storage for agricultural foods in the food supply chain. In addition to Oklahoma the following food supply chain investments will expand opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs in: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
“Investing in the entire life cycle of our agriculture products is just a common-sense strategy for strengthening our ag producers and has been proven to be win-win solution for the American people,” Corn said. “Already we are seeing the game plan of investing in rural America pay off, as we have seen these inflation busting investments work as intended.”
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/ok.