USDA Department: Rural Development
Application period: ???-May 11 (electronic) or May 16 (paper)
Awards Range: $75,000 to $250,000
Match: 100%
Intended applicants: Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, as defined in the program regulation, are eligible to apply for this program. Priority is given to beginning farmers or ranchers, socially-disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, small or medium-sized farms or ranches structured as a family farm, farmers or ranchers cooperative or are proposing a mid-tier value chain.
Grant focus: Agricultural or food producers interested in value added activities
Summary: helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.