Writing a Value-Added Producer Grant takes substantial time, strategy, organization, and mobilization. Make sure you know whether your project will work in this program, and how your team can be prepared to get things submitted on time and on mission.
Past but Still Relevant Resources
- Raising Money for Your Farm Through Value-Added Producer Grants – from January 2021, a general discussion on writing strategy and how to approach the VAPG.
- VAPG Update: Deadline Extended to May 4th – when the grant was extended in 2021, we did a quick outline that outlines options for writing the grant in 50 days. This is very helpful for this year with the shortened writing period.
- It’s closer than you think – Preparing to apply for the next round of Value-Added Producer Grants – Jim Gage, Sara Huber, and Andy Larson emphasize effective strategies for grant writing. Sara does an excellent job talking about VAPG eligibility requirements in this session – and all of these requirements still hold for 2022.
VAPG Related Edible-Alpha® Podcasts & Articles
| Image | Title | Summary | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparing for the 2024 Value Added Producer Grant | On December 14, 2023, FFI launched its 2024 Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) programming with … | Raising Capital | |
 | Transform Your Farm Products and Boost Revenue with a VAPG | All USDA Local Agricultural Marketing Program (LAMP) grants application periods are now open! For those helping to boost sales of local food the FM/LFPP grant is for you and for farmers looking to grow their value-added income stream the VAPG. | Raising Capital |
 | #2 – Why a VAPG Toolkit Read Through? | As part of the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant application, Rural Development provides applicants with a “toolkit” to guide them through the working capital or planning process. This 40+ page toolkit is an excellent way to organize the proposal, but it can be intimidating for first-time writers of federal grants. | Raising Capital |
| #1 – The USDA Value-Added Producer Grant is Out! | The USDA Rural Development office announced Notice of Funding Availability (NOSA) last week. This annual grant program has been used by thousands of rural entrepreneurs over its 15+ year history, and I have had the pleasure (and challenge) of being involved in the application process with many clients. | Raising Capital |
 | 7 Success Strategies for Value-Added Ag | For farmers looking to diversify their income and boost total revenue, value-adding can be a great way to go. At its core, value-added agriculture means transforming a raw commodity into something new and of greater value. Any of these opportunities can provide immense value to consumers, increase a farm’s notoriety and generate additional income for the farm business. | Business Models, Raising Capital |
 | How This Old Farm Built a Successful Meat Processing Business | Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More Jessica Roosa of This Old Farm shares her journey from organic farming to starting and scaling a 100% traceable meat processing business. | Business Models, Operations, Raising Capital |
 | VAPG Update: Deadline Extended to May 4th | The 2021 USDA Value Added producer Grant offers a unique opportunity for farmers to compete for planning and working grant funds – both in terms of the amount of funding available and the 10% match requirement for a significant portion of the awardees. | Raising Capital |
 | 5 Success Lessons from a Famous Founder | The Edible-Alpha® podcast aims to educate and inspire listeners by showing “what it really takes … | Business Models, Operations, Raising Capital, Sales and Marketing |
 | Raising Money for Your Farm Through Value-Added Producer Grants | Tera Johnson interviews renowned VAPG writer and consultant, Jim Gage of JDG Consulting. The webinar gives farm entrepreneurs a better understanding of how a VAPG could help their businesses and if they should be writing one right now. | Raising Capital |
 | Value-Added Producer Grants With Jim Gage | Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More While the VAPG grant can be complicated (for example, a 75 page application plus Business Plan and third-party Feasibility Study), it requires applicants to critically consider expansion of the customer base and the marketplace for products as well as demonstrate how they will have sufficient business structures, profit and cash flow to operate in the long-term. | Raising Capital |
 | Working With Grants Like The USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant | The best entrepreneurial candidates for VAPG do their due diligence, looking at all aspects of the business, like financing, marketing, product testing, talking to others and hire a team (like lawyers, accountants, etc.) that can help them before rushing into the process. | Business Models, Raising Capital |