Rolnictwo i żywność · 8.05.2015
Inviting Applications for Value-Added Producer Grants
This Notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2015 applications for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Approximately $30 million in funding is available to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities for FY 2015. Approximately $10.2 million has been appropriated through the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 and the remaining funds have been made available through either carry over funding from FY 2014 or through the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). The Agency is concurrently publishing a final rule that will revise the current VAPG regulation at 7 CFR part 4284, subpart J in response to: The 2014 Farm Bill; comments received on the interim rule, which was published on February 23, 2011 (76 FR 10122); a listening session, held on April 25, 2014, on the VAPG provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill; and to provide program clarifications. The Agency is encouraging applications that directs grants to projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent. This emphasis will support Rural Development's (RD) mission of improvin