Editor’s Note: Click here to watch a recording of the webinar, and here to download the powerpoint presentation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Reana Kovalcik
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net
Value-Added Producer Grant Program Webinar Will Help Producers Apply for USDA Funds
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and USDA Will Co-Host the Online Training
Washington, DC, October 9, 2017 – On October 18, 2017 at 1:00pm Eastern Time, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development team will present a webinar introducing producers to the Value Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG). The webinar will help family farmers and ranchers to determine if applying for the competitive grant program is the right fit for their operation.
Login details for the webinar can be found at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/ncig7iyyfr72&eom
Please note that interested attendees will not be able to register for the webinar in advance, at the time of the webinar participants can use the included link to join. Also, there will be no call-in function, all participants will have to use their computer speakers.
VAPG helps farmers and ranchers turn their raw product into minimally processed goods (e.g., milk into cheese or apples into apple-cider) that can bring in significantly more revenue and attract new customer bases. Producers can also use the program for a number of other uses, including: working capital, feasibility studies, business plans, and marketing efforts.
USDA Rural Development, which administers the program, has recently issued at least $18 million in competitive grant funds for this fiscal year. Interested producers may be eligible for up to $75,000 for planning grants and up to $250,000 is for implementation grants. Individuals and groups of producers, as well as farmer coops and producer-controlled businesses, are eligible to apply for these grants. VAPG is a popular program amongst producers because it helps them to diversify and increase their revenue streams – particularly important during extended periods of low commodity prices and a sluggish farm economy.
The deadline to submit paper applications to your State Rural Development Office (by mail or in person) is January 31, 2018.. For electronic applications, the deadline is January 24, 2018; electronic applications must be submitted through grants.gov.
To learn more about VAPG, check out NSAC’s free, online guide: Farmers’ Guide to Applying for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
Jesse jacobs says
I had technical difficulties and was not able to view the webinar. Was is recorded or is there a way for me to learn the information.
My dad and I are veteran beginning farmers interested in producing value added products on our farm.
Reana Kovalcik says
Hi Jesse, please check out our “Farmers Guide to Applying to VAPG,” which is on our publications page. We also have many blogs about VAPG and will regularly post updates about the program and application opportunities there. We will be making the webinar content available in the coming week, and will likely advertise it via social media.