The town of Unity is one of 26 communities across the country to get funding from a new federal program created to improve access to local food and boost economic activity of local farmers and businesses, according to a news release Thursday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The town will receive assistance in creating a more connected and walkable downtown and help in branding the area’s agricultural character through the Local Foods, Local Places Program, according to the release.

Funding for the program is made possible through six federal agencies: the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control, the Appalachian Regional Commission and Delta Regional Authority. There were 316 applications, and 26 communities were chosen to share $800,000 in funding, according to the release.

“The town is in a strong position to benefit from the technical assistance that will be provided through the Local Foods, Local Places Program by building on new initiatives and strengthening the connections between agricultural activities and the downtown economy,” said Rosie Vanadestine, executive director of the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, in the release, which represents Unity and other communities in the region.

No other details about what the money will be used for were immediately available.

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