USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses Develop New Products

The deadline to apply is March 10, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help farmers, ranchers, and producer-based businesses develop new products and expanding marketing opportunities.

Rural Development is making approximately $37 million in grants available nationwide under the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. The grants can be used to develop new products from raw agricultural products, to develop additional uses for already developed product lines, or to market value-added agricultural products.

Independent producers, agricultural operators, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to veterans, socially-disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives.

Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 10:00 pm EST on March 5, 2020. Paper applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm EST on March 10, 2020. In Delaware and Maryland, applications should be submitted to your local USDA Rural Development office.

We strongly encourage you to contact a local Business and Cooperative Program Specialist prior to beginning work on your application for more details about the requirements and process. VAPG toolkits and other useful resources can be found on our website.

For additional information, see page 67703 of the December 11, 2019, Federal Register.