Polk is one of 29 counties in Western North Carolina that will benefit from a state grant for sustainable agriculture.

North Carolina Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning, Inc. (NC REAL) has received a grant of between $35,000 to $70,000 to help development more economic opporutnities for sustainable agriculture businesses.

The funds will be used to intiate a region-wide entrepreneurial training and support network to create new sustainable agriculture businesses and expand existing ones.

NC REAL plans to use the grant to gather partners in the industry and discuss regional needs related to sustainable agriculture. The organizaation also plans to hold sustainable agriculture expos and train instructors to offer specialized entrepreneurial training.

The grant was one of 25 announced Thursday by N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue to help create jobs and economic opportunity in Western North Carolina. A total of more than $5.7 million in funding was awarded through a partnership between the state and the Appalachian Regional Commission.