Sen. Art Linares: Grant to Haddam-based Group Aims to Grow Ag Jobs

Sen. Art Linares today welcomed the announcement of a $5,800 Farm Viability Grant to Haddam-based Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development for a project to survey Connecticut farmers about current energy use and establish baseline data.

The grant was one of several announced Wednesday which aim to expand Connecticut’s $3.5 billion agricultural industry. The investments are being made through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Farm Transition Grant and Farm Viability Grant programs and will assist farms, agricultural nonprofits, and municipalities increase production, promote Connecticut Grown products, and create jobs.

“Connecticut’s agricultural sector has enormous untapped potential,” said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. “The investments we are announcing today in small farms and our Regional Market are a clear sign that we can both preserve our agricultural heritage and help it expand and create jobs.”

The full list of grants can be viewed at www.governor.ct.gov/malloy .

“Here in the Connecticut River Valley, we want to protect and grow the agricultural industry,” Sen. Linares said. “Agriculture accounts for about 20,000 jobs statewide, but we can do more to grow those numbers. We can grow those jobs by creating a climate that helps current and future farmers to succeed.”

Additional information is at www.CTGrown.gov.