USDA Rural Grant Information Webinar

Kalamazoo, Mich.- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several grant programs to help entrepreneurs develop value-added food and fiber businesses. To learn about these programs, farmers and others can attend a free educational workshop on March 24 at 10:00 AM and offered by the Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center and the Michigan office of USDA Rural Development. The program will be conducted as a webinar at:

Van Buren Technology Center
Distance Learning Center
250 South Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
Contact: Mark Thomas
Phone: (269( 384-8061
E-mail: mthomas@msu.edu

Participants can learn about various USDA grant programs for value-added production and alternative energy. Presenters from the Product Center will discuss the meaning of value-added production and explain how they can help grant writers navigate the process.

Rural business specialists from the USDA’s Rural Development program will discuss eligibility criteria, the application and evaluation process, matching funds and other requirements. They will also discuss resources available to those developing grant proposals.

Although details of this year’s USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program have not been announced, it is expected to be similar to prior years. It has been open to independent producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures to fund one of the following two activities: planning activities needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product (e.g., conduct a feasibility study, develop a business plan, develop a marketing plan); or acquire working capital to operate a value-added business venture that will allow producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program, through USDA-Rural Development, offers grants, guaranteed loans, and combination grant/guaranteed loans to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements in rural areas.

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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