Value-Added Producer Grants

To help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program.

Applicants are not eligible if they have been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from participation in Federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, �Debarment and Suspension.� Applicants are not eligible if they have an outstanding judgement obtained by the U.S. in a Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court), are delinquent on the payment of Federal income taxes, or are delinquent on a Federal debt. Any corporation that has been convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24 months or that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, is not eligible for funding.

Applications are evaluated based on 6 criteria: (1) Nature of the Proposed Venture, (2) Qualifications of Key Personnel, (3) Commitments and Support, (4) Work Plan/Budget, (5) Priority Points, (6) Administrator�s Discretionary Points. Applicants should review 7 CFR � 4284.942 and the annual Federal Register notice for details on how these criteria will be scored.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 50 Matching requirements are mandatory.

Fiscal year 2025: This Rural Development investment will be used for planning to assist a farm. They will work on a feasibility study, business plan, marketing strategy for scaling their wine business. They will be contributing $69,040.00 towards this project. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide Value Added Producer Grant. Funds will provide working capital funds to be used for marketing, purchasing supplies, assisting with transportation and shipping, for Value-Added Agricultural Product processing related to making various shelf stable beef snack products. This product expansion will bring growth to this farm operation, as well as additional jobs.