Farmers, agricultural producer groups and their related ventures can now apply for federal grants aimed at developing new products or expanding on existing ones.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s so-called value-added producer grant program (VAPG) provides individual working-capital grants as high as $250,000 for processing, marketing and other costs. VAPG also provides business-planning grants as high as $75,000. Recipients are required to match half the funds.
Congress’ 2014 Farm Bill is providing more than $30 million of the $44 million available this year.
VAPG has awarded nearly $145 million to more than 1,100 farmers and other entities since 2009.
Of that total, $1.2 million has gone to six Connecticut projects.
Last year, the sole recipient here was Somers’ Pell Farm, which received $250,000 to expand their strawberry distribution network in the Northeast.
More information on the program and its application deadlines can be found here.
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