Office of Community and Economic Development
OCED Attends 2501 Partnership Symposium in Savannah
| Picture | Caption(yes/no) | Caption Text |
|---|---|---|
 |
yes | OCED project manager Miguel Lopez attended the 4th Annual 2501 Partnership Symposium |
 |
yes | The conference allowed participants, USDA officials, and other food and ag-related industry guests to network, encourage partnerships, share best practices; discuss programmatic requirements; share information on new and enhanced USDA programs and services and obtain programmatic stakeholder feedback. |
Project Manager Miguel Lopez attended the 4th Annual 2501 Partnership Symposium event on behalf of the Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development. The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Rangers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (2501) Program was created with the 1990 Farm Bill to assist socially disadvantaged farmers, rangers, and foresters who have historically experienced limited access to USDA loans, grants, training, and technical assistance. The program offers grants to higher education institutions, nonprofit, and community-based organizations to extend USDA’s engagement efforts in disadvantaged communities. The program is operated through the USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE).
OCED participated in the conference to learn about the USDA’s programs and services outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill. OCED also represented Fresno State as a Center of Community Prosperity, a designation under the new outreach program that OPPE is spearheading. Much of the work that OCED conducts revolves around economic development and providing various services and assistance to businesses and disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley. The 2501 Program goals align with the work that OCED is involved with. This event was an opportunity for OCED to learn more about the program’s services under the 2018 Farm Bill and connect with other organizations that have similar goals.