HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-23 Correspondence - USDA - USDA Makes $31 Million in Grants Available for Farmers and Ranchers to Add Value to Their ProductsFrom:USDA Rural Development MontanaTo:AgendaSubject:USDA Makes $31 Million in Grants Available for Farmers and Ranchers to Add Value to Their ProductsDate:Friday, March 17, 2023 10:29:07 AM
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US Department of Agriculture Rural Development - Together America Prospers
USDA Makes $31 Million in Grants Available for Farmers andRanchers to Add Value to Their Products and Access Newand Better Markets
Bozeman, Mont., March 17, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural
Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is
making $31 million in grants available to help farmers and ranchers access new and better
markets by adding more value to their products.
USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program.
The grants help agricultural producers generate new products, create marketing
opportunities, and increase their incomes through value-added activities.
Last year, 17 agricultural producers across Montana received more than $2.3 million in
direct funds through this program which helped them generate new products, create, and
expand marketing opportunities, and increase their income while growing local economies
and providing products and services in rural and Tribal areas.
Learn more about Montana’s 2022 VAPG recipients HERE.
USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-
Harris Administration to help rural communities and people address climate change and
environmental justice, advance racial justice, place-based equity, and opportunity, and
create more and better market opportunities.
Eligible applicants include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or
rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
Funding priority will be given to beginning farmers or ranchers who are military veterans or
socially disadvantaged individuals; small and mid-sized family farms or ranches; and
farmer or rancher cooperatives. Priority also will be given to projects that propose a mid-
tier value chain by developing a supply network that moves agricultural products from
production through consumption in a local or regional market.
The funding may be used for planning activities or working capital expenses related to
producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Planning activities may
include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans. Working capital
expenses may include costs associated with processing, marketing, advertising, inventory,
and salaries.
The maximum award for a planning grant is $75,000. The maximum award for a working
capital grant is $250,000.
Electronic applications will be accepted via Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
May 11, 2023. Paper applications must be sent to the State Office where the project is
proposed.
Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed or sent overnight by May 16, 2023.
Applications also may be delivered in person or emailed one of Montana’s six Rural
Development field offices – Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell or Missoula -
by close of business May 16, 2023.
Additional information is available on page 16396 of the March 17, 2023, Federal Register
or by contacting your local USDA Rural Development office.
To learn more about the Value Added Producer Grant Program, applicants may contact
Marlee Johnston, USDA Rural Development in Montana Business and Cooperative
Services program specialist at (406) 312-0189 or marlee.johnston@usda.gov, to discuss a
project and ask questions about the application process.
USDA Rural Development has six offices in Montana – Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls,
Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula. To learn more about investment resources for rural areas
in Montana, call (406) 585-2587 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/mt.
If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery
subscriber page.
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