EDA Invests $100,000 Promoting Regional Agriculture Cluster

$100,000 goes to local agriculture The state Office of Planning has been awarded a $100,000 federal grant that will benefit local agriculture. The Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Commerce Department announced the award yesterday, saying it will allow the state to assess agricultural irrigation systems, design a food market distribution program and develop a local food production strategy. More broadly, the results of the work funded by the grant are expected to save or create jobs, lead to lower-priced food items and help the state become more self-sufficient in its food supply, according to the Economic Development Administration. "The plan that the State of Hawaii will develop with this EDA grant will improve the condition of the agricultural sector and streamline the food distribution system to strengthen the cluster's productivity and its ability to create jobs," John Fernandez, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, said in a statement. Business Briefs - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com http://bit.ly/eJh1Nh