HV Food & Beverage Alliance secures federal grant

The federal Economic Development Administration will award the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance $3.43 million to launch a new coalition and facility to help local farmers affected by recent tropical storms, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced Oct. 15.

The funds will allow the Food & Beverage Alliance to construct a new facility at the Culinary Institute of America, located in Poughkeepsie, designed to help famers network with New York food and beverage producers and to develop relationships that could help those farmers to recover from a string of harsh weather over the past year, Schumer said in a press release.

“This federal investment is incredible news for farmers across the Hudson Valley, who will finally see a source of relief from last year’s flooding through this unique rebuilding opportunity at the Culinary Institute of America,” Schumer said.

The grant is contingent on receipt of final supporting documents by the Economic Development Administration, which is a division of the Commerce Department.