Trump Administration to Support Community Revitalization, Local Food Initiatives in St. Albans
St. Albans, Vermont –Today, in support of the Trump Administration's Executive Order on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service and the Northern Border Regional Commission in announcing assistance to help St. Albans City with revitalization strategies that boost the local economy, improve health, and protect the environment. The assistance is provided through Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), a federal initiative that helps communities reinvest in existing neighborhoods and improve quality of life as they develop the local food economy.
"EPA is proud to partner with USDA and the Northern Border Regional Commission to offer support to communities looking to develop their local food economy," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "Support for local food initiatives can improve access to fresh foods, support farmers, grow new businesses, and protect the environment."
"Local Foods, Local Places will help our stakeholders, such as the community in St. Albans, with revitalization efforts through the development of local agriculture, improved food access and economic development," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro.
"The Healthy Roots Collaborative is very excited to take part in Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance program to advance local food access in St. Albans City. We see this as a great step in better connecting local consumers to the farms that surround them and building a vibrant local food system for our region," said Koi Boynton of Northwest Healthy Roots Collaborative.
The Northwest Healthy Roots Collaborative at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans City are working with a team of agricultural, environmental, public health and regional economic development experts to set goals and identify local assets that can support the local food economy. The Northwest Healthy Roots Collaborative is also developing an action plan and identify potential resources from the participating federal agencies to support implementation. They want to make local food access more equitable while supporting the growth and viability of diversified farming to sustain a strong downtown.
Since its launch in 2014, LFLP has helped 93 communities across the country develop local food enterprises, such as farmers markets, community gardens and cooperative grocery stores, that improve environmental, economic and health outcomes.
The 2019 partner communities were selected from more than 70 applications. A summary of planned projects is provided below.
For an update on 2018 LFLP projects: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places#2018
For more information on LFLP: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places