Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 11 04 SSDPG
Apply for RDBCP 11 04 SSDPG
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.771 Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2011 and posted on Aug 12, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,456,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applicants must be a cooperative or an association of cooperatives as defined in this Notice, and must be able to verify their legal structure as a cooperative in the state in which they are incorporated. Individuals are not eligible for this program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG) is a discretionary, competitive grant program designed to strengthen support systems for small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers by funding technical assistance delivered through cooperatives. Rather than providing direct payments to individual farmers or ranchers, the program focuses on building the capacity of eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives to offer practical, hands-on help that improves producers' ability to operate successfully, participate in markets, and make informed business and production decisions. The opportunity is administered by USDA Rural Development's Business and Cooperative Programs and is tied to CFDA 10.771, Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
The main goal of the SSDPG program is straightforward: fund technical assistance for small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers, with the assistance being provided by eligible cooperative organizations. The emphasis on "technical assistance" generally means services such as business planning, financial recordkeeping support, marketing guidance, cooperative development education, and other advisory or training activities that help producers become more competitive and sustainable. The program's structure signals that USDA intends to reach producers through trusted, organized cooperative networks that already have a relationship with their communities, rather than requiring individual producers to navigate federal grant systems on their own.
Funding under this opportunity is awarded through a competitive selection process, meaning applicants must submit proposals and are scored against other applicants based on the program's criteria in the full notice. For this specific posting (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 11 04 SSDPG), the estimated total funding available was $3,456,000, with an expected 20 awards. The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $200,000, and the minimum (floor) was listed as $0, which typically indicates there is no stated minimum request amount, though proposals still must be realistic and aligned with program rules to be considered viable. Importantly, there was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed for this opportunity, which lowers the barrier for eligible organizations that may have limited unrestricted funds.
Eligibility is limited and specific. Applicants must be a cooperative or an association of cooperatives, as defined in the official notice, and they must be able to verify their legal cooperative structure in the state where they are incorporated. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply. The opportunity listing uses an "Others" category with clarification in the eligibility text, but the key takeaway is that the applicant must be a bona fide cooperative entity (or an association of them) with proper legal documentation. This design reinforces that SSDPG is intended to fund organizations that can serve multiple producers and provide structured assistance at scale.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted on August 12, 2011, and had a very short application window, with an original and current closing date of August 15, 2011. The archive date was September 14, 2011, indicating it is no longer active and is maintained for historical reference. Anyone needing the full announcement at the time was directed to a program contact, Melinda Martin, listed as the Program Manager, with an additional information link pointing to program information resources.
Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG) FAQs
What is the Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG)?
The Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG) is a discretionary, competitive USDA grant program designed to strengthen support systems for small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers. It does this by funding technical assistance that is delivered through eligible cooperative organizations.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by USDA Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs.
Is SSDPG a direct payment or subsidy to individual farmers or ranchers?
No. The SSDPG program does not provide direct payments to individual farmers or ranchers. Funding is intended to build the capacity of eligible cooperatives (and associations of cooperatives) to provide hands-on technical assistance to producers.
What is the main purpose or goal of the SSDPG program?
The main goal is to fund technical assistance for small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers, delivered through eligible cooperative organizations. The focus is on improving producers' ability to operate successfully, participate in markets, and make informed business and production decisions.
What does "technical assistance" mean under SSDPG?
Based on the description provided, technical assistance generally includes practical support such as business planning, financial recordkeeping support, marketing guidance, cooperative development education, and other advisory or training activities that help producers become more competitive and sustainable.
Who is the intended audience that ultimately benefits from SSDPG-funded activities?
The ultimate beneficiaries are small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers. However, the funding flows to eligible cooperatives and associations of cooperatives that provide the technical assistance to those producers.
Why does the program fund cooperatives instead of individual producers applying directly?
The program structure indicates USDA intends to reach producers through trusted, organized cooperative networks that already have relationships within their communities, rather than requiring individual producers to navigate the federal grant process on their own.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. Awards are made through a competitive selection process. Applicants submit proposals that are scored against other applicants using the criteria described in the full notice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RDBCP 11 04 SSDPG.
How much total funding was estimated to be available under this posting?
The estimated total funding available for this specific posting was $3,456,000.
How many awards were expected under this posting?
The posting indicated an expectation of 20 awards.
What was the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) listed for this posting was $200,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (floor)?
The minimum award amount (floor) was listed as $0. This typically indicates there is no stated minimum request amount, though proposed budgets still need to be realistic and aligned with program rules to be considered viable.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to cooperatives and associations of cooperatives (as defined in the official notice). Applicants must be able to verify their legal cooperative structure in the state where they are incorporated.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly not eligible to apply.
What kind of documentation is implied for eligibility?
The listing states that applicants must be able to verify their legal cooperative structure in the state where they are incorporated. This implies applicants need appropriate legal documentation showing they are a bona fide cooperative entity (or association of cooperatives).
How is this opportunity categorized in federal assistance listings?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 10.771, Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
What were the posting date and the application deadline for this specific listing?
This opportunity was posted on August 12, 2011. The closing date was August 15, 2011 (the original and current closing date were the same).
Is this opportunity currently open?
No. The archive date was September 14, 2011, which indicates the posting is no longer active and is maintained for historical reference.
Who was the program contact listed for this opportunity?
The program contact listed was Melinda Martin, Program Manager.
Where were applicants directed to get the full announcement at the time?
Anyone needing the full announcement was directed to the program contact (Melinda Martin). The listing also referenced an additional information link pointing to program information resources.
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