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The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service is inviting applications
for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG). VAPG is
a competitive grants program administered by USDA's Rural
Business Cooperative Service that makes funds available to
help producers enter into value-added activities. The program
is administered through State USDA Rural Development offices.
Individual producers, cooperatives, farm alliances and majority-controlled
producer-based business ventures are encouraged to apply.
Grants are awarded for both the marketing and processing
of an agricultural product. Hard-won language was
adopted in the 2002 farm bill to qualify how an item
is grown or raised (e.g. grass-fed, free range, organic, etc.)
as value-added.
Grants may be used to:
- develop business plans and feasibility studies (including
marketing plans or other planning activities) needed to
establish viable marketing opportunities for value added
products; or
- for acquiring working capital to operate a value-added
business venture or an alliance.
Applications are due by 4:00 pm on Monday, October
20, 2003, and electronic submission of proposals
is strongly encouraged. Click for the
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)
Note: This NOFA is identical to last year's, so applicants
should contact their state USDA Rural Development director's
office for information. The list of contacts is in the NOFA.
For more information and contacts about the Value-Added Producer
Grants Program, go to: http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/Value_Added.php
For a list of 2002 VAPG grant awards go to http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/2002/value_ad.htm |
