{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/460000-federal-funding-maine-food-projects", "$460,000 in federal funding for Maine food projects", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rosemont Market receives $65,000 to double local food sales, and Somali Bantu Community receives $395,000 to reduce food insecurity \u00a0\u200b  Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced that Portland-based Rosemont Market will receive a $64,922 Local Food Promotion Grant from the USDA. \u00a0The program is making $26.8 million in investments this year, thanks to Pingree\u2019s successful efforts to triple its funding in the 2014 Farm Bill.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThere\u2019s been so many terrific efforts to make healthy, locally sourced food available to Mainers, which is good for consumers, farmers, and the state\u2019s economy. \u00a0But the federal government simply wasn\u2019t doing enough to support it,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s why I pushed to triple funding for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs during the last reauthorization of the Farm Bill. \u00a0These critical investments help farmers and other small businesses meet the growing demand for local food\u2014and Rosemont Market is a terrific example.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tRosemont Market is an independent grocery, bakery, and food hub that is a pioneer in Maine\u2019s local food movement. The company estimates that nearly half its revenue is connected to locally sourced food. \u00a0With a Local Food Promotion Program Grant, the company will develop a plan to double its local food sales in the next 3-5 years. \u00a0A full summary of the project is online.The USDA also released news today that Somali Bantu Community in Lewiston, in partnership with the Cumberland County Food Security Council, will receive a $394,851 Community Food Projects grant. Funding will support the community\u2019s agricultural efforts to reconnect to its cultural heritage while reducing food insecurity. \u00a0A full summary of the project is online.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn 2013, Pingree introduced the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, comprehensive legislation to give more federal supports to small- and medium-sized farms in Maine and across the country. \u00a0When President Obama signed the last Farm Bill in 2014, it contained numerous provisions from Pingree\u2019s bill. One of those pieces was tripling funding for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, which oversees funding for the USDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/460000-federal-funding-maine-food-projects"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3924301601946354, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}