Recovery Act Allocates Millions for Direct Operating Loans to Farmers

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Carrie Novak, Farm Loan Chief for USDA's Farm Service Agency in Massachusetts announced today that FSA will immediately use $145 million of the $173 million provided in the Recovery Act for its Direct Operating Farm Loan Program, which will give 2,042 farmers - almost 50% are beginning farmers and 10% are socially disadvantaged producers - direct loans from the agency.

"These loans will be used to purchase items such as farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel and other operating expenses and will stimulate rural economies by providing American farmers funds to operate," said Novak.

All remaining funding will be allocated through approved loans until all available funds have been expended. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis with special emphasis placed on beginning and socially disadvantaged applicants. The maximum loan amount is $300,000.

In keeping with the president's goal for the Recovery Act, this loan funding is intended for proper investment into the agricultural sector, to benefit both family farmers and rural economies. The Recovery Act was designed to preserve or create millions of jobs throughout the country and these loans help ensure that recipients remain financially viable and local agri-businesses benefit from direct purchases.

Here is a hypothetical example of purchases made with a $100,000 direct operating loan:

* Used Farm Tractor: $45,000
* Livestock: $18,000
* Seed: $15,000
* Fertilizer: $10,000
* Fuel: $12,000

The effect of this loan reaches the local implement dealership, sale barn, the grain seed distributor, the fertilizer distributor and a local fuel dealership.

For specific information on direct operating loans and other FSA Farm Loan Programs, current or potential farmers should contact their Farm Loan Program representatives through their county FSA Office. For instance, farmers in Berkshire County should contact Randy Kleiner or Beverly Rice in the Hadley Service Center at(413)585-1000. More information is available at the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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