Delegate Talks Loans and Grants for Farmers

Local farmers learned about available federal grants and loans during a virtual forum hosted by Del. Stacey Plaskett.

Plaskett said she lobbied as a freshman to be on the Congressional Agriculture Committee and continues to serve on it. She listed some federal programs she helped pass in the U.S. Congress for farmers to grow their businesses while conserving the land. The V.I. has been included in the federal drought monitoring program to allow the territory to access disaster funding and for farmers and livestock owners.

She said she secured $1 million for the Farmers in Action Program on St. Croix to rehabilitate a one million-gallon cistern and two smaller ones to provide a consistent water source.

Lakeisha Hood Moise, state director for USDA Rural Development, said the agency offers more than 70 loan and grant programs for businesses and opportunities in housing through the Rural-Business Cooperative, Rural Housing Service and Rural Utilities Service.