County staff said a USDA award (reported as $70,000) will expand a food and farm technical‑assistance program to help farmers with grant readiness, business planning, and market access; staff said the pilot helped farmers win more than $152,000 in grants with a 100% success rate.

Janice Hill said county staff and partners have deployed more than $1 million in federal, state and other grant funds in the last two years and outlined new approaches — including buy‑protect‑sell partnerships and stacked funding — to help farms expand and remain viable.