Nashville

“Food banks can be a real a lifeline to some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “These Recovery Act funds will help put food on the table for Tennesseans in need.”

“At a time when more and more people are turning to food banks for help, I am pleased that Second Harvest Nashville will receive these funds to help continue providing necessary services to our community,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville.

The federal funds are to help reimburse agencies for costs incurred in distributing food to the needy during the previous fiscal year. Allocations are based on the most recent U.S. Census Bureau poverty estimates for counties in each food bank’s service area. Food banks sharing in the funding include:

• Chattanooga Area Food Bank – $55,005
• Mid-South Food Bank, Memphis – $150,118
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, Knoxville – $111,729
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville – $205,122
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, Washington Co. – $50,994

“Local food banks have seen the demand for their services increase due to the current economic situation. We’re glad these Recovery Act funds will be able to help cover some of the cost of providing food assistance to those who really need it in communities across Tennessee,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens.

State Agriculture officials expect a similar allocation of ARRA funds for the current federal fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. Those funds will be used to assist community action agencies, which also distribute food to the needy in communities across Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture administers emergency food assistance in the state and distributes USDA commodities for the National School Lunch Program to Tennessee schools. Last year, TDA distributed more than 43 million pounds of food valued at $43 million to schools, childcare institutions and non-profit charities.

For more information on TDA, visit www.TN.gov/agriculture. For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.tnrecovery.gov.

The grant will be used to plant forty trees within the large, circular ramp loop at the intersection of Ft. Campbell Boulevard and 101st Airborne Division Parkway. Three tree species have been selected for the project. Twenty shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), ten Kentucky coffee trees (Gymnocladus dioicus), and ten bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) will be planted.

These extremely hardy, native trees are large-growing, long-lived, and well suited for urban tree planting. The objective of the planting is to provide rain interception, improve air quality, and help counter the “heat island” effect of this heavily paved area. A secondary objective is to promote the use of native species and also the use of groves in our City as an alternative to only planting single trees and rows of trees.

The project design consists of a large star-shaped grove of trees encircled by a ring of trees. The five point star is an important ideogram which is commonly used in the Western world, with strong military and patriotic associations. The pattern will be readily recognized from the sky, and is intended to honor Clarksville’s 101st Airborne Division while at the same time functioning as a working grove that will eventually fill in the entire site with a closed canopy.

The City Forester, Clint Patterson, designed the project and applied for the grant with the support of Clarksville’s Tree Board and with help from City Grants Coordinator Ron McClurg.

Agricultural Commissioner Ken Givens along with State Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville) has announced the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program. Most applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis and should be filled out completely. Applications cannot be postmarked earlier than June 1. The deadline for submission is July 1.

According to Pitts, “Agriculture continues to be one of the most important industries we have here in Tennessee and these grants means hundreds of farms across the state have a better chance of being here for years to come.”

This year’s program offers the same menu of cost share opportunities as last year, including livestock equipment, cattle genetics, hay storage, feed storage, grain storage and producer diversification opportunities. To date, TAEP has provided cost share funds for more than 15,000 projects. A recent study has shown that for every state dollar invested, an additional $4.64 is generated in local economic activity.

Ted Givens, Commissioner-TN Dept. of Agriculture

“This year, there may be fewer total dollars to go around, but the Ag Enhancement Program remains strong and we expect to be able to put several millions of dollars on the ground to help farmers make strategic investments,” said Givens. “We expect another year of high demand for these cost share opportunities, so farmers should apply early.”

New for agritourism operators is the Tourist-Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) cost share opportunity. Through TAEP, agritourism operators can receive cost share funds to purchase TODS featuring TDA’s well known red barn icon. These signs can be used along Tennessee highways to direct motorist to agritourism venues.

TAEP is a state funded program established by Governor Phil Bredesen and supported by the General Assembly to increase farm income in Tennessee by helping farmers invest in better farming practices and by encouraging diversification and innovation.

Through TAEP, farmers can qualify for 35 or 50 percent cost share ranging from a maximum of $1,200 to $15,000 on a variety of projects.

Applications are available at most farm agencies and farm supply stores including USDA Farm Service Agency, UT Extension, Farm Bureau and Tennessee Farmers Co-op locations.  Producers can get important messages and updates on the program by calling 800-342-8206.

For more information or to download an application, visit www.TN.gov/agriculture/enhancement.