CHENANGO COUNTY – Twelve agribusinesses in Chenango County are in line to receive piece of a $1.1 million state grant to help expand and improve their operations.

Grants to Chenango County are just part of a larger $18 million first-round allocation that was awarded throughout New York’s Southern Tier on Tuesday. Funding, administered through NY Agriculture and Markets’ Ag Industry Enhancement Program, will benefit a total of 214 projects in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.

Advocates say that grants will help increase agricultural production, grow the economy, and create new opportunities.

“These grants encourage sustainable agricultural development, which is key to growing the Southern Tier economy,” NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated on Tuesday. “By empowering hundreds of farms to expand their businesses and increase environmental sustainability at the same time, this funding will help secure the future success of the region for years to come.”