Applications Sought for Buy Local, Farm to Fork, Promotional Grants

FRANKFORT (January 23, 2019) — Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles today called for Kentucky Proud members and local organizations to apply for funding from three Kentucky Proud promotional programs.

“These Kentucky Proud programs help raise awareness of the many great local foods that Kentucky has to offer,” Commissioner Quarles said. “In the process, they also help Kentucky family farms and agricultural businesses succeed. These programs are intended to help build long-lasting commercial relationships that will endure beyond the life of these grants.”

The Buy Local program provides incentives for participating distributors, restaurants, and other food service businesses to buy and use Kentucky Proud products for their customers. The program offers participants a 15 percent reimbursement for the cost of Kentucky Proud farm food up to $8,000 a year or a lifetime cap of $36,000. For guidelines and an application, go to kyproud.com/buylocal. For more information, contact Kelly Walls at kellyjwalls@ky.gov or (502) 782-4110.

The Farm to Fork program provides incentives for local organizations to host dinners that showcase local farms, farmers, producers, and Kentucky Proud products while benefiting a local charity. Participating organizations may be reimbursed up to $750 for purchases of eligible Kentucky Proud food products and associated promotional expenses. For more information, contact Alisha Morris at alisha.morris@ky.gov or (502) 782-4119. For guidelines and an application, go to kyagr.com/marketing/farm-to-fork.html.

The Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant reimburses members for up to 50 percent of future eligible expenses for advertising, marketing, and reaching consumers at the point of purchase to promote agricultural products with direct Kentucky farm impact. Grants are limited to 10 percent of the applicant’s reported direct Kentucky farm impact up to $8,000 a year or a lifetime cap of $36,000. For more information, contact Jonathan Van Balen at jonathan.vanbalen@ky.gov. For an application, guidelines, and other documents, go to kyagr.com/marketing/grants.html.

Kentucky Proud is administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Funding for Kentucky Proud is provided through a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.