Month: October 2016

Small Factories Emerge as a Weapon in the Fight Against Poverty

The New York Times
By Nelson D. Schwartz

October 28, 2016

BALTIMORE — James Branch’s life seemed destined to follow a familiar arc in the streets that surround the Marlin Steel factory, where he bends metal from sunrise until near dark.

He fathered a child while in high school, dropped out, then spent a dozen years selling drugs. He went to prison and, afterward, squatted in abandoned houses in West Baltimore. He worked the fryer at Popeyes and fought the temptation to go back to dealing on street corners that many Americans will know from the television series “The Wire.”

Go to full story at The New York Times

Valley food producers land nearly $850,000 in USDA grants

The Business Journal
By Business Journal staff
October 28, 2016

San Joaquin Valley food producers are on the receiving end of nearly $850,000 in grants meant to help small rural businesses develop new products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a total of $45 million in Value-Added Producer Grants Thursday, going to 325 projects across the U.S.

Go to full story at The Business Journal

AgPLUS attends National Manufacturing Day

October 7, 2016

As part of National Manufacturing Day, Yolo County Congressman John Garamendi hosted Domestic Manufacturing and the “Make It In America” Agenda in Woodland California on October 7. At the event, Garamendi announced the award of a new USDA Rural Business Development Grant to Valley Vision for the Central Valley AgPLUS Food and Beverage Manufacturing Consortium. The grant will benefit food and beverage manufacturers in the Central Valley through business procurement workshops.

“Central Valley is the biggest agriculture area in the world. As we expand our Ag sector, we have to make sure that leads to manufacturing jobs,” said Garamendi.

Local Congressman visiting Woodland on Friday

Daily Democrat
By Democrat staff

October 4, 2016

Yolo County Congressman John Garamendi will be in Woodland on Friday to host Domestic Manufacturing and the “Make It In America” Agenda as part of National Manufacturing Day.

The event will start with a tour of Pacific Coast Producers, one of the largest tomato processing plants in the world. The tour will be followed by an opportunity to discuss with attendees regional efforts to expand manufacturing in Woodland and the Sacramento Valley.

Go to full story at Daily Democrat