Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2021
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) is a competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically within USDA Rural Development's Business and Cooperative Programs. It is designed to help agricultural producers move beyond selling raw commodities by supporting projects that create or grow "value-added" activities, meaning efforts tied directly to processing and/or marketing agricultural products in ways that increase their value and, ultimately, the producer's income. The overall purpose is to encourage producers to develop new products, reach new markets, strengthen marketing channels, and build more profitable and resilient farm- and producer-owned businesses.
This program targets applicants that are already viable (or can clearly show a path to viability) and that fit within specific producer-focused categories. Eligible applicant types include Independent Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses. In practice, this means the program is aimed at operations where agricultural producers have meaningful ownership and control, and where the project benefits those producers by increasing returns from value-added processing and marketing rather than simply expanding general farm production.
Funding is provided as grants under a discretionary program structure (CFDA 10.352), and awards are made through a competitive process, meaning applications are evaluated against one another and only the strongest proposals are funded. The program supports two main project types: planning grants and working capital grants. Planning grants typically help applicants pay for the upfront work needed to determine whether a value-added idea is feasible and bankable, such as feasibility studies, business plans, market research, or other planning activities tied to launching or expanding a value-added enterprise. Working capital grants are intended to support the operational costs required to actually carry out processing and/or marketing activities for a value-added product, focusing on the steps needed to bring the product to market and generate sales.
A central requirement across proposals is that the project must be directly related to the processing and/or marketing of a Value-Added Agricultural Product, and the application must demonstrate economic viability and sustainability. In other words, it is not enough to have a good idea; the proposal needs to show a realistic business case that the value-added activity can operate successfully over time. The USDA is looking for projects that can stand on their own financially, contribute to durable business growth, and translate into measurable improvements such as new or expanded product lines, broader market access, and increased producer revenue.
For the referenced funding cycle, the opportunity is titled "Value-Added Producer Grant" with Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP VAPG 2021. The award ceiling listed is $250,000, with an estimated 300 awards expected. The opportunity was created on January 5, 2021, and had an original closing date of March 16, 2021. Overall, this grant is best understood as a tool for producer-led businesses to capture more of the consumer dollar by investing in the steps that transform agricultural production into higher-value products and stronger market positions.Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2021
- The Department of Agriculture, Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Value-Added Producer Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.352.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 05, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 300 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| Opportunity title from S2S Apply for KV SU 01162021 0908 Funding Number: KV SU 01162021 0908 Agency: General Dynamics Information Technology Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Announcement for Program Funding – NORTH DAKOTA Apply for USDA NRCS ND MULTI 21 NOFO0001041 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ND MULTI 21 NOFO0001041 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Conservation Collaboration Grants Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Announcement for Program Funding – NORTH DAKOTA Apply for USDA NRCS ND MULTI 21 NOFO0001042 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ND MULTI 21 NOFO0001042 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY 2021 FFPr Standing NOFO Apply for USDA FAS 0700 10606 21 S Funding Number: USDA FAS 0700 10606 21 S Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food for Progress 10.606 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $7,000,000 |
| Opportunity title from S2S Apply for KV SU 02202021 0651 Funding Number: KV SU 02202021 0651 Agency: General Dynamics Information Technology Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Opportunity title from S2S Apply for KV SU 03202021 0842 Funding Number: KV SU 03202021 0842 Agency: General Dynamics Information Technology Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Acer Access and Development Program Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 21 0006 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM ACER G 21 0006 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) Apply for USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 21 0004 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 21 0004 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM Apply for USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 21 001 Funding Number: USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 21 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, McGovern-Dole Food for Education 10.608 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Outreach Education and Technical Assistance for Farm Service Agency Programs, Functions and Activities Apply for USDA FSA MULTI 21 NOFO0001104 Funding Number: USDA FSA MULTI 21 NOFO0001104 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $99,999 |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 21 0003 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Scientific Exchanges Program Apply for USDA FAS 10620 0762 10 21 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10620 0762 10 21 0001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Opportunity title from S2S Apply for KV SU 04172021 1101 Funding Number: KV SU 04172021 1101 Agency: General Dynamics Information Technology Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Military REACH Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 008338 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 008338 Agency: Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $700,020 |
| African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0014 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 21 0014 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Apply for 2022 05 Funding Number: 2022 05 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Quality Samples Program Apply for 2022 04 Funding Number: 2022 04 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Quality Samples Program 10.605 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program Apply for 2022 02 Funding Number: 2022 02 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Market Development Cooperator Prog 10600 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Market Access Program Apply for 2022 01 Funding Number: 2022 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Market Access Program 10.601 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Emerging Markets Program Apply for 2022 03 Funding Number: 2022 03 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Emerging Markets Program 10.603 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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