The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has awarded Utah State University Extension a grant of over $1 million to expand digital market opportunities for agricultural producers. The funding, provided through the Utah Food Security Grant Program under the Rural Health Transformation Program, will expand the existing E-Commerce Accelerator and establish a new Digital Marketing Intensive business mentoring program for agricultural operations.
Expanding Digital Market Access
The investment aims to provide technical assistance to help rural agricultural producers establish e-commerce websites. Additionally, the program will offer digital marketing training designed to reach new consumers, grow businesses, and increase consumer access to healthy, locally-grown or produced food.
Participants in the E-Commerce Accelerator will receive individualized technical assistance and support from business consultants. This support is tailored to each participant's current e-commerce readiness and specific business goals. Services may include website development and improvement, online storefront setup, search engine optimization, online marketing, customer experience, and performance tracking.
Strengthening Rural Businesses
The program is intended to serve rural agricultural producers and food businesses looking to reach customers beyond traditional in-person or local sales channels. By providing these tools, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between local production and digital consumer access.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Kelly Pehrson stated that the agency is investing in the infrastructure Utah producers need to grow, process, and distribute more locally-produced food. Pehrson noted that producers also require the digital skills and tools necessary to market their products and reach customers, and that the partnership with USU Extension will help bridge that gap by strengthening rural agricultural businesses.
Focus on Profitability
Justen Smith, Vice President of USU Extension, said that Utah agricultural producers must remain profitable to stay in business and continue producing food for future generations. Smith expressed appreciation for the partnership with UDAF, noting that the grant allows the E-Commerce Accelerator program to provide resources that help agricultural producers find new markets and improve profitability.
Proven Economic Impact
The E-Commerce Accelerator program has already demonstrated impact through its existing partnership with UDAF. Since the partnership began, the program has built an additional three websites for Utah businesses, with eight more currently underway.
Through digital business expansion, the program has already generated an additional estimated $303,565. The new funding will build upon these results to further increase the reach of local agricultural operations.
Program Participation
Local producers and businesses interested in the program can sign up for the program waitlist or subscribe to the USU Extension newsletter for updates via the university's website.
Federal Funding Context
The publication of this news is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This support comes as part of a financial assistance award totaling $11 million, which is 100% funded by CMS/HHS.
