U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-2) on Thursday applauded a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant awarded to Cato Corner Farm in Colchester. The $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant will be used to expand Cato’s existing production of cheeses and establish new types of cheese through connections with other local dairy farms. Cato Corner is a family-owned dairy farm managed by the mother-son team that makes raw farmstead cheese by hand from forty-five Jersey cows.

“Cato Corner competed with farms across the country to secure this new funding, which will go a long way in helping them expand production and grow their business. Congratulations to the owners and their workers on a job well done with winning these major federal grants,” said Blumenthal, Murphy, and Courtney.

“We’re excited that this grant will allow us to both expand our business and support other local farmers. We’re hoping to develop a line of pasteurized cheeses and yogurt with milk from nearby farms,” said Mark Gillman, Cato Corner Farm.

Blumenthal, Murphy and Courtney have been vocal advocates for Connecticut’s dairy farmers, including calling on the USDA to provide emergency assistance to dairy farmers struggling with historically low milk prices. Murphy is the author of the Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act, which would create a new $5 million grant program to help small cheese producers, like Cato Corner, grow their businesses. Courtney is a co-chair of the Congressional Dairy Caucus.