An Agriculture Business Innovation Center will be established at the historically Black North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, N.C., thanks to $1.92 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture was authorized through public law to issue a competitive grant for establishing the Agriculture Business Innovation Center, according to a June 8 news release.
“This new innovation center will serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities nationwide,” USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh said in the release. "“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to supporting historically underserved communities, and this new center will be pivotal as we continue to build back better the fabric of our nation’s communities and businesses. This latest investment will expand the capacity of our nation’s [Historically Black College and Universities] to advance multidisciplinary teaching, outreach and integrated projects to build better markets, enhance economic development and support new and existing agricultural businesses.”
“This new innovation center is a perfect complement to the NIFA-funded 1890 Center of Excellence for Student Success and Workforce Development already housed at NC A&T State University,” Acting NIFA Director Dionne Toombs said in the release. “The combination of these two centers will deliver a much-needed boost to the next generation of agricultural professionals and will support growth, profitability and success of existing businesses to increase employment opportunities in the field.”
