Value-Added
Producer Grant
Agricultural
producers can receive economic planning and working capital
grants
Application
submission deadline: 10/15/2012
Rural
Development Partners:
US Department of
Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD)’s Value Added Producer Grant program
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA; attached) has been published for FY 2012.
The program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities.
Grants will be awarded competitively for either economic planning or working
capital projects directly related to the processing and/or marketing of
value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing
opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of the program.
$14 million are available in this national competition. The deadline to submit
applications is October 15, 2011. Attached and below, you will find information
about the programs, including the tools you’ll need to apply.
Staff names and
contact information are available at the end of the attached fact sheet.
USDA-RD encourages each potential applicant to contact the Rural Development
State Office or a local Area Office as soon as possible. Staff can identify
whether a potential applicant and project are eligible and answer your questions
about the program.
Value-Added
Producer Grant -- Deadline: October 15, 2012
Basic
information
· The program is
for economic planning or working capital. Funding amounts: No minimum.
Maximum: $100,000 for planning; $300,000 for working capital · There is no “rural” requirement—all areas of New Mexico are eligible.
· Eligible applicants are independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperatives; or majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Please see the specific definitions of these applicant types in the regulation cited below at page 20 (section 4284.920). All applicant types must currently produce and own a majority of the agricultural commodity to which value will be added and that is the subject of the proposal.
· The types of eligible projects are listed on page 23 (section 4284.922) of the regulation cited below. A value added product is any agricultural commodity or product that meets one of the following qualifications.
o Has undergone a
change in physical state
o Was produced in a
manner that enhances its value
o Is physically
segregated
o Is a source of farm-
or ranch-based renewable energy, including E-85
o Is aggregated and
marketed as a locally produced agricultural food product.
· As a result of
the proposed project, the customer base for the agricultural commodity or
value-added product must be expanded and the project must result in the
applicant producer of the agricultural commodity’s receiving a greater portion
of the revenue derived from the marketing or processing of the value-added
product.· There is a matching fund requirement of at least $1 for every $1 in grant funds provided by the agency.
Requirements/application
template: The fact sheet provides an overview of the program. More information is available
at the USDA-RD VAPG website page at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG.html . An application template will be available at
that website soon. The application requirements are guided by the Notice of Funds Availability and the regulation, which can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/4284j.pdf . The application must include the required
forms.
Deadline/Submission: Applications
must be submitted by October 15, 2012 or
they will not be considered for funding from this NOFA. Paper applications must be postmarked
and mailed, shipped or sent overnight by this date. Electronic applications are
permitted via www.grants.gov
only, and must be received by midnight on this date. No fax or email
application submissions will be considered. Submit paper applications to
USDA-Rural Development/New Mexico State Office, 6200 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque,
NM 87109. Submit to the State Office; NOT an area office.
We, at
USDA-Rural Development, look forward to speaking with you about your
projects.
Jesse
B. Jesse Monfort Bopp l
State Loan
Specialist, NM Rural Energy Coordinator
Rural
Development
U.S. Department
of Agriculture
6200 Jefferson
NE, Rm 255
Albuquerque, NM
87109
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