United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand invited applications for grants to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop and market new products.
Approximately $33 million in grants is available under the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The Agency may also utilize any funding that becomes available through enactment of fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations. In Pennsylvania, contact Karen Kuhns at (724) 261-3893 or email karen.kuhns@usda.gov for more information on the VAPG program.
The deadline for paper applications is March 22, 2021. The deadline for the electronic application is March 16, 2021. The anticipated award date is Sept. 30, 2021.
The grants may be used to develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Veterans, socially-disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given special priority.
USDA encourages applications that will support recommendations made in the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB) to help improve life in rural America.
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments. Key strategies include:
• Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
• Developing the Rural Economy
• Harnessing Technological Innovation
• Supporting a Rural Workforce
• Improving Quality of Life
For additional information, see the notice in the Federal Register.
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