LOGAN — Utah State University Extension has received more than $1 million in grant funding to help agricultural producers strengthen their e-commerce and digital marketing skills, opening new opportunities for farmers and food businesses to reach customers.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food awarded the grant to USU Extension through its Utah Food Security Grant Program, part of the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding will expand USU Extension’s E-Commerce Accelerator and establish a Digital Marketing Intensive business mentoring program.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food awarded a grant to USU for their Extension’s E-Commerce Accelerator to establish a Digital Marketing Intensive business mentoring program.
The programs are designed to help rural agricultural producers establish e-commerce websites, improve their online presence and develop digital marketing skills to reach new consumers and grow their businesses. The effort also aims to increase consumer access to healthy, locally grown and produced food.
UDAF Commissioner Kelly Pehrson said the Utah Food Security Grant Program invests in the infrastructure producers need to grow, process and distribute more locally produced food.
“But producers also need the digital skills and tools to market their products and reach customers,” Pehrson said. “This partnership with USU Extension will help bridge that gap, strengthening rural agricultural businesses and getting more consumers access to Utah-grown products.”
Through the E-Commerce Accelerator, participants receive individualized technical assistance and support from business consultants based on their current e-commerce capabilities and business goals.
Services may include website development and improvements, online storefront setup, search engine optimization, online marketing strategies, customer experience improvements and performance tracking.
The program is intended to serve rural agricultural producers and food businesses looking to expand beyond traditional in-person sales and local markets.
“Utah agricultural producers have to be profitable to stay in business and continue producing the food we eat for generations to come,” said Justen Smith, vice president of USU Extension. “UDAF’s generous grant allows USU Extension’s E-Commerce Accelerator program to provide the resources our ag producers need to find new markets that can improve profitability. We are very appreciative of our partnership with UDAF.”
Since partnering with UDAF to fund the program, the E-Commerce Accelerator has helped build three additional websites for Utah businesses, with eight more projects underway. The program has also generated an estimated $303,565 in additional revenue through digital business expansion.
Utah agricultural producers and businesses interested in participating can join the program’s waitlist or subscribe to the USU Extension newsletter for updates.
More information is available at extension.usu.edu/ecommerce.