Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2011

Contact:
Ann Seuferer | Practical Farmers of Iowa | 515.232.5661 | ann@practicalfarmers.org
Sally Worley | Practical Farmers of Iowa | 515.232.5661 |sally@practicalfarmers.org

AMES, IOWA – Practical Farmers of Iowa has been awarded a $128,800 Assets for Independence (AFI) grant by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services within the Department of Health and Human Services. With the addition of the AFI grant, Practical Farmers has now raised more than $290,000 from more than 100 individuals and businesses for the Savings Incentive Program, which is $40,000 above its goal of $250,000.

These funds will help the 27-year-old nonprofit, sustainable-agriculture organization to implement a program designed to assist beginning farmers to make a living on the land. The Savings Incentive Program works by encouraging beginning farmers to save approximately $100 each month for two years. After two years and completing all program requirements, beginning farmers’ savings will be matched by Practical Farmers of Iowa so that each beginner could have up to $4800 to put toward a farm asset such as land, machinery or livestock. During the two-year period, enrollees will create or fine tune a business plan and participate in programming to help them create a successful farm business.

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