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Trump Administration Invests $2.7 Million to Help Rural Wisconsin Ag Producers & Small Businesses

Name
Jessica Mancel
Email
jessica.mancel@usda.gov
Phone
715-345-7669
City
Stevens Point
Release Date

Projects will Develop New Products & Expand Business Lines

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Sept. 23, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Frank Frassetto announced that the department is investing $2.7 million in rural Wisconsin to help 14 agricultural producers and small businesses develop new products and expand their business lines.

“Small businesses and family farms are the foundation of our Wisconsin economy and an essential component of our communities. We are pleased to provide funding to assist them in growing, creating jobs and taping into new markets,” Frassetto said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Wisconsin in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”

Today’s funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. VAPG grants may be used for planning activities or working capital expenses related to producing or marketing a value-added product including feasibility studies, business plans, processing of the value-added product, logo and website development and marketing and distribution. Independent agricultural producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives and producer-controlled entities are eligible to apply. Each fiscal year, grants are awarded through a national competition and applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Successful recipients in Southeastern Wisconsin include:

  • Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese LLC, a third-generation farm and online store in Waterloo, will receive a $250,000 grant for working capital to help to expand the sales of form-filled Oaxaca cheese. The project will focus on packing a smaller sized cheese form to be placed immediately into grocery stores throughout the U.S.
  • Park Ridge Organics LLC, a crop farm in Fond du Lac, will receive a $50,000 grant for working capital to market and sell organically produced vegetables at their farm store.
  • WD Hoard & Sons Company, a majority-controlled producer based business in Fort Atkinson, will receive a $250,000 grant for working capital to produce and market Artisan Cheeses from Grade A Guernsey Milk.
  • The Victory Garden Farm LLC, a crop farm in Fredonia, will receive a $40,000 grant for working capital to market and sell locally produced vegetables, herbs and meat.
  • McFarlane Pheasants Inc, a pheasant farm in Janesville, will receive a $250,000 grant for working capital to process and market a pheasant sausage.
  • Old Plank Farm LLC, a vegetable farm in Plymouth, will receive a $140,000 grant for working capital to help the farm produce for members of a Community Supported Agriculture program.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wi, call us at 715-345-7600 or email wi-rd-stateoffice@usda.gov.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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