Three Upper Cumberland business will benefit from the state’s Agriculture Enterprise Fund (AEF).
The Department of Agriculture said 12 grant recipients have invested more than $8 million in their agriculture and forest-product businesses. Businesses had to demonstrate strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity, or agriculture innovation.
Fentress County’s Beaty Lumber and Plateau Sawmill received grant funding for purchasing a new chipper, debarker, and loader for transporting more logs. Clay County-based Rich Farms will use the funding to implement a new organic laying hen operation.
In total, AEF has awarded more than $3.3 million in funding to Tennessee businesses. Priority went to businesses located in at-risk or distressed counties.