The USDA has announced Rural Business Opportunity grants of up to $250,000 to support economic development in local and regional economies around food, energy and natural resources.  The projects are expected to represent a collaboration within a self-defined region of a wide range of institutions and organizations.  The Federal Register notice is attached but to save you some time, the key areas of interest to be supported include:

1.  Local and regional food systems
that encourage agriculture and related
industries in new wealth creation—