Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Grant Writer Consultant Training

Writing a Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) takes substantial time, strategy, organization, and mobilization. These grants open doors for new projects by providing farm-businesses with the funds to expand their current markets or enter into new ones, thereby increasing financial returns going forward.

This training equips consultants to write high quality VAPG grant applications for their clients, increasing the likelihood that they will get funded.

Agenda Outline

• Day 1: Monday, January 30th from 9am to 2:30pm
  Content Delivery: 9am to Noon | Topic: Eligibility and Working with the USDA
  Lunch Break: Noon to 12:30pm
  Discussion: Break out groups and deeper discussion on eligible and projects
• Day 2: Tuesday, January 31st from 9am to 2:30pm
  Content Delivery: 9am to Noon | Topic: Being a Successful VAPG Grant Writer
  Lunch Break: Noon to 12:30pm
  Discussion: Break out groups and deeper discussion on grant writing and grant writing as a practice within your business/working with entrepreneurs as a consultant
• Day 3: To be scheduled with the cohort after grant application cycle is over.

About The Presenter: Jim Gage

James D. Gage is the principal for James D. Gage Consulting, Inc and a Food Finance institute (FFI) Expert in Residence.  He specializes in value added dairy and local foods business development.  Gage is currently designing and leading programming to specialty clients, grant writers and agricultural entrepreneurs as they access and author the USDA Value Added Producer Grant.   He is the past manager of the Wisconsin Dairy Business Innovation Center, and has worked on business and marketing issues with over 400 value added clients over the last 18 years.

Specific consulting has included conducting market research, writing feasibility studies, business plans and grants, and providing small business management services.  He served as the business-strategist in residence for the American Cheese Society (2013-17), and is a certified Wisconsin Value-Added Food & Farm Business Consultant.  Gage worked extensively with the private sector high technology community as part of the University of Wisconsin’s Environmental Remote Sensing Center, and has been part of agricultural research and management consulting teams in more than 40 countries worldwide while working with the Land Tenure Center (University of Wisconsin), the International Development Management Center (University of Maryland), and the Peace Corps.  Mr. Gage holds an MS in Horticulture and Plant Physiology from University of Maryland- College Park, and a BA in Political Science from Fordham University.

Resources

Check out our curated list of resources around all things VAPG.