The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a USD19.6m investment in an Idaho potato packaging facility as part of a new initiative to improve markets for agricultural farmers and food businesses in 19 states across rural America.

According to information provided by the USDA, Rupert-based Mart Group LLC will use the money to build a plant for processing frozen potatoes, double the company’s current frozen and whole potato manufacturing capacity. According to the USDA, the financing will stabilize 12 other employees at the company while also adding six new ones, to strengthen the nation’s food supply chain.

The grant for Idaho was recently announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as part of the department’s provision of USD320m in government funds to improve food supply chains and open up new economic options for agricultural farmers.

Additionally receiving funding are companies in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.