Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 2013 VAPG
Apply for RDBCP 2013 VAPG
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture business and commerce energy food and nutrition other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) 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 Value Added Producer Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2014 and posted on Nov 26, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 8, 2014 You must submit your application by the deadline published in the Federal Register or it will not be considered for funding that may be announced in a subsequent Notice. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped or sent overnight by this date. You may also hand carry your application to one of our field offices, but it must be received by close of business on the deadline date. Electronic applications are permitted via http://www.grants.gov only, and must be received before midnight Eastern Time on this date. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,500,000.00 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 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- You must meet the requirements of one of the following applicant types Independent Producer, Agricultural Producer Group, Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority Controlled Producer Based Business Venture. Your proposed value added product must also fall within one of the five product categories, and you must also comply with all the other eligibility requirements detailed in the Program Regulation and NOFA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is a competitive federal grant opportunity designed to help agricultural producers move beyond selling raw commodities by supporting "value-added" business activities. The basic idea is to help producers earn more by processing and/or marketing products in ways that increase their value, especially bio-based value-added products. The program is aimed at real business outcomes: developing new products, opening or expanding marketing channels, and ultimately increasing producer income through value-added strategies rather than only relying on traditional commodity sales.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP 2013 VAPG; CFDA 10.352) was offered as a discretionary grant program under the USDA Business and Cooperative Programs. It spans several funding activity areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, energy, and food and nutrition, reflecting how value-added projects often intersect with processing, branding, distribution, and bio-based market development. Approximately 100 awards were expected from an estimated total funding pool of $10,500,000, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $200,000 per grant. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute eligible matching funds or resources alongside the federal grant funds, consistent with the program rules.
Eligibility is limited to specific producer-focused applicant types. Applicants must qualify as one of the following: an Independent Producer, an Agricultural Producer Group, a Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or a Majority Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture. In addition to being an eligible applicant, the proposed project must involve a value-added product that fits within one of the program's five qualifying product categories, and the applicant must meet the other requirements laid out in the governing Program Regulation and the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). In practical terms, this means the grant is intended for producer-led ventures where the producers maintain meaningful control and the project clearly demonstrates how the product is being differentiated, processed, marketed, or otherwise enhanced to capture more value.
While awards are competitive, the program includes priority considerations for certain groups and project types. Priority may be given to beginning farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, veteran farmers or ranchers, and small or medium-sized family farms and ranches. Farmer and rancher cooperatives can also receive priority consideration, as can applicants proposing projects that align with a "mid-tier value chain" approach as defined in the program regulation. These priorities are meant to steer funding toward operations that may face structural barriers to capital and market entry, or toward business models that strengthen regional supply chains and distribute value more fairly among producers.
Regarding timing and submission logistics, the opportunity was originally posted on November 26, 2013, with an original application deadline of February 24, 2014. The current closing date listed for the announcement was April 8, 2014, with an archive date of April 30, 2014. Applications had to be submitted by the applicable deadline to be eligible. Paper applications needed to be postmarked (or shipped/overnighted) by the deadline date, and hand-delivered applications had to be received by close of business at a field office by the deadline. Electronic submission was allowed only through Grants.gov and had to be received before midnight Eastern Time on the deadline date. Late applications were not considered for FY 2013 funding.
For support or questions, the announcement provided a program contact and a program manager phone number (202-690-1376), and it referenced a program website for additional details. The key takeaway is that VAPG is intended to help producer-controlled agricultural businesses invest in the early steps of building a value-added enterprise, with competitive funding, a required match, and priority for producers and project models that align with the program's equity and supply-chain goals.
Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program FAQs
What is the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program?
The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is a competitive federal grant opportunity designed to help agricultural producers move beyond selling raw commodities by supporting value-added business activities. It focuses on helping producers increase income by processing and/or marketing products in ways that increase their value, including support for bio-based value-added products.
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is intended to support real business outcomes, such as developing new products, opening or expanding marketing channels, and increasing producer income through value-added strategies rather than relying only on traditional commodity sales.
What is the official funding opportunity identifier for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RDBCP 2013 VAPG, and the CFDA number is 10.352.
Which federal agency and program area offered this grant?
This opportunity was offered under USDA Business and Cooperative Programs as a discretionary grant program.
What funding activity areas does this opportunity cover?
The announcement spans several funding activity areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, energy, and food and nutrition, reflecting that value-added projects often intersect with processing, branding, distribution, and bio-based market development.
How much funding was available in total?
The estimated total funding pool for this announcement was $10,500,000.
How many awards were expected?
Approximately 100 awards were expected under this funding opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount listed for this opportunity was $200,000 per grant.
Is matching or cost sharing required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute eligible matching funds or resources alongside the federal grant funds, consistent with the program rules.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to specific producer-focused applicant types. Applicants must qualify as one of the following:
- Independent Producer
- Agricultural Producer Group
- Farmer or Rancher Cooperative
- Majority Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture
Does the project need to involve a specific type of product?
Yes. In addition to being an eligible applicant, the proposed project must involve a value-added product that fits within one of the program's five qualifying product categories, and the applicant must meet other requirements described in the governing Program Regulation and the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
What does "value-added" mean in this program context?
Based on the announcement description, value-added is tied to activities that differentiate, process, market, or otherwise enhance an agricultural product so it captures more value than a raw commodity sale. The goal is to help producers earn more by taking steps that increase the product's market value.
Is this grant intended for producer-led or producer-controlled ventures?
Yes. The grant is intended for producer-led ventures where producers maintain meaningful control, and where the project clearly shows how value is being added through processing, marketing, or product differentiation.
Are there priority categories or groups that may receive preference?
Yes. While awards are competitive, the program includes priority considerations for certain groups and project types. Priority may be given to:
- Beginning farmers or ranchers
- Socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers
- Veteran farmers or ranchers
- Small or medium-sized family farms and ranches
- Farmer and rancher cooperatives
- Projects aligned with a "mid-tier value chain" approach (as defined in the program regulation)
What is meant by a "mid-tier value chain" approach?
The announcement indicates that projects aligning with a "mid-tier value chain" approach, as defined in the program regulation, can receive priority consideration. The notice ties this idea to business models that strengthen regional supply chains and distribute value more fairly among producers.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was originally posted on November 26, 2013.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline listed was February 24, 2014.
What was the closing date listed for the announcement?
The current closing date listed in the announcement was April 8, 2014.
When was the archive date?
The archive date listed was April 30, 2014.
How could applications be submitted?
Applications could be submitted by paper delivery methods or electronically, with specific rules depending on the submission method and deadline requirements.
What were the requirements for paper applications?
Paper applications needed to be postmarked (or shipped/overnighted) by the deadline date. Hand-delivered applications had to be received by close of business at a field office by the deadline.
Were electronic submissions allowed, and if so, how?
Yes. Electronic submission was allowed only through Grants.gov and had to be received before midnight Eastern Time on the deadline date.
What happens if an application is submitted late?
Late applications were not considered for FY 2013 funding under this announcement.
Where could applicants get help or ask questions?
The announcement provided a program contact and listed a program manager phone number: 202-690-1376. It also referenced a program website for additional details.
What is the main takeaway of this grant opportunity?
The core goal of VAPG is to help producer-controlled agricultural businesses invest in the early steps of building a value-added enterprise, using competitive grant funding with a required match and with priority for producers and project models aligned with equity and supply-chain goals.
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