Luján Highlights USDA Rural Development Funding for Northern New Mexico Businesses

Press Release

Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico's Third District highlighted two grants for northern New Mexico businesses through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant program. Old Wood, LLC in Las Vegas and Comida De Campos, Inc. in Embudo are receiving grants of $300,000 and $49,927 respectively.

"USDA Rural Development is committed to helping local businesses get ahead and contributing to a stronger rural economy in communities across New Mexico," Congressman Luján said. "The funds provided by the value-added grants promote entrepreneurship in small communities that depend on local resources to survive."

The grant will help Old Wood enhance its marketing of its unique wood block flooring -- which is produced from their own small diameter timber operations -- to high end global markets. Comida de Campos will use the grant to fund a working capital proposal that helps the business add value to its vegetable and fruit and berry operation by creating fresh packaged, ready to eat salads and vegetable and fruit entrees and selling the packaged good in refrigerated vending machines located at health conscious locations.

The USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants help agricultural producers grow their business by expanding marketing opportunities, creating new products or developing new uses for existing products. The grants are an important part of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative that supports local and regional food systems.

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