ULSTER, N.Y. — Bread Alone, Inc., an organic European-style bakery serving New York’s Hudson Valley, has received a $4.6 million business and industry guaranteed loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The funds will be used to acquire a 26,000-square-foot vacant facility to renovate into a commercial bakery and retail outlet. Bread Alone plans to install commercial artisan baking equipment to more fully automate the baking process.

“This funding is the yeast that literally raises the dough, not only for Bread Alone, but for the local community as well,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. “I applaud the U.S.D.A. Rural Development program for making this pivotal investment in an important Hudson Valley business and community partner like Bread Alone.”

Bread Alone was founded in 1983 to bake wholesome and organic bread on the hearth of a wood-fired brick oven. The company’s organic grains are grown in New York, the Midwest and Canada.