USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG)

Application Information & Template

NOTE: The 2011 notice of funding availability (NOFA) for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program was released June 28, 2011. Approximately $37 million in competitive grant funds is available to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. The maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000. Deadline for submission of grant applications is August 29, 2011.

A list of the 2009 USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) recipients is available HERE.  This is the latest list available; a VAPG funding cycle was not held in 2010.

For information about the grant, eligibility requirements, and/or application process please contact your state USDA Rural Development representative. In Nebraska, contact:

Joan Scheel
USDA Rural Development
Room 152 Federal Building
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402)437-5594
Fax: (402) 437-5408
joan.scheel@ne.usda.gov

Contacts for other states can be found here.

If you are a producer of food inputs or a value-added food product and would like assistance preparing your grant application, please contact The Food Processing Center at 402-472-2832 or you may contact Suzanne Weeder-Einsphar directly via phone or email [402-472-5806 or sweeder1@unl.edu]

NOTE ABOUT THE TEMPLATES: The 2011 template is different from previous years. This year, there is a single template for both Planning and Working Capital grant applications. Additional information on the VAPG program’s rules and regulations is available in the 2011 NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability).

Prior to applying, applicants must do the following:

• First, apply for a DUNS Number (Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System). To apply for any Federal grant funding, all applicants must have a DUNS number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-5711 or online at http://www.dnb.com.
• Once you have the DUNS Number, all applicants for Federal grant funding must register in the CCR (Central Contractor Registration) database at http://www.ccr.gov. The free Registration may take 1-1.5 hours to complete and requires a DUNS #, tax ID and business name, statistical and financial information about the business (including number of employees and annual receipts for each of previous 3 years), and Electronic Funds Transfer information for payment of grant disbursements to grantee (Routing #, Account #, ACH contact). CCR registration activation will take 1-5 days with an established tax ID; OR 2-5 weeks if a new Employer Identification Number is used. A cage code number and expiration date will be provided when the registration is activated and must be included in your VAPG application information.

For technical assistance, call the toll-free assistance line at 1-866-606-8220 and press “1” for CCR, or contact the Procurement Technical Assistance Center for your state for additional help at http://www.aptac-us.org.

Template (Courtesy of USDA Rural Development)
2011 VAPG Grant Template

Required Forms (refer to page 3 of the Template)
Application For Federal Assistance (SF-424)
Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
Assurances - Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
Assurance Agreement (RD 400-4)
Request for Environmental Information, Working Capital applications only (RD 1940-20)

Links
USDA Rural Development - Nebraska
USDA Rural Development - Federal