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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks, Associate Director of Communications and Development
press@sustainableagriculture.net

Release: Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

The Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States.

Washington, DC, March 28, 2025 —Last week, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and the Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON) opened applications for their annual scholarship in honor and memory of the late Cynthia Hayes, co-founder and former director of SAAFON.

The scholarship welcomes applications from Black and Indigenous undergraduate and Masters students from all Tribal Nations, US states, and territories. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their interest in food justice, sustainable agriculture, and how these issues impact Black and Indigenous farmer communities in the United States.

“SAAFON is proud to announce the 2025 Cynthia

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Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

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| Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Email: lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net

Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship honors the co-founder of the first network for African American organic farmers in the United States

Washington, DC, April 3, 2023, — The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), in partnership with The Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON), and Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) announced that applications are now being accepted for the annual scholarship in memory of the late Cynthia Hayes, co-founder and former Executive Director of SAAFON. The scholarship welcomes Black and Indigenous MANRRS-registered students interested in sustainable agriculture and how it affects Black farmer communities and food justice in the United States to apply.

“We look forward to offering this opportunity to three outstanding student leaders who embody Cynthia’s

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USDA Accepting Proposals for Regional Food Business Centers

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced the availability of $ 360 million to establish at least six new Regional Food Business Centers. This funding comes from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), which provided significant investments to respond to and rebuild from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among its provisions, ARPA included funding for strengthening and building more resilience into our nation’s supply chains, with a focus on supporting local and regional producers and markets impacted by the pandemic.

According to the Request for Applications (RFA), the Regional Food Business Centers are envisioned to provide “coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building support to small and mid-sized farm and food businesses, with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system.”

Specific goals for the Centers are …