Washington, DC – Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln and Representative Vic Snyder (AR-02) today announced that Winrock International has been awarded a grant through the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program.  This funding will allow the Arkansas Rural Enterprise Center (AREC) to continue to provide technical assistance and training to cooperatives.

“Ensuring that Arkansas’s newly formed cooperative networks have the training and resources they need is essential to their success.  I commend Winrock International for their leadership and dedication to helping farmers in rural areas,” said Pryor.  “In turn, farmers increase production, create more jobs and the improve quality of life for their entire community.”

"Agriculture is the backbone of our state's economy," said Lincoln. "The work that Winrock International does with small acreage and disadvantaged farmers strengthens rural economies throughout our state and enhances the quality of life for small growers."

“Winrock International is a phenomenal organization and I am proud of the great services it offers Arkansas and the world,” said Congressman Snyder. “I am happy they received this development grant, as this funding will go towards projects to further enhance rural agriculture in Central Arkansas.”

"This grant allows Winrock to continue working with underserved farmers, specifically immigrant poultry farmers to diversify farm income," Annett Pagan, Director of U.S. Programs at Winrock said. "It fits in very well with Winrock's sustainable food systems projects, which promote locally grown food."

In 1992, Winrock International established the AREC to work in rural Arkansas in expanding jobs and income. Since then, the AREC has worked on cooperative development projects dealing with Arkansas' secondary wood products manufacturers, small sawmills, poultry producers, and a network of business owners and managers and educators. AREC has provided these industries with services that include technical assistance in marketing research, business planning, new product development, plant expansion, and insurance.