Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2017
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) opportunity is a discretionary USDA Rural Development funding program run through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Its purpose is to help agricultural producers move beyond selling raw commodities by supporting projects that add value to what they grow or raise. In practical terms, this program is aimed at helping producers increase revenue and strengthen rural businesses by funding activities tied to developing, marketing, and expanding value-added agricultural products, such as processing, packaging, branding, marketing, or other steps that allow a producer to capture a larger share of the final consumer dollar.
For this particular notice (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP VAPG 2017, CFDA 10.352), USDA indicated that approximately 18 million dollars was available at the time of publication, with the possibility of using additional funds if more become available after the notice is released. The agency also noted that the final amount could change depending on federal budget actions, such as a continuing resolution or an appropriations act, and that the official funding level would be posted on the USDA Rural Development VAPG webpage.
The award instrument is a grant, and the maximum award size listed is 250,000 dollars. The agency expected to make about 200 awards under this competition, which suggests a relatively broad national competition with many recipients, but also implies that applications would need to be well-prepared and competitive to score highly. The original application deadline for the notice provided was January 24, 2018, and the opportunity was originally created on August 29, 2017.
Eligibility is focused on agricultural producers and producer-controlled entities. The groups specifically called out include Independent Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses. In other words, applicants generally need to be producers themselves or organizations that are primarily owned and controlled by producers, aligning the program with its goal of ensuring that farmers and ranchers benefit directly from value-added business development rather than outside intermediaries.
A notable administrative detail in the notice is that it also announces the solicitation of non-federal independent grant reviewers. These reviewers are brought in to evaluate and score applications submitted under the notice, which signals that applications are judged through a structured, competitive review process and that scoring quality, completeness, and alignment with program objectives matter significantly.
Overall, this VAPG notice describes a USDA funding opportunity designed to stimulate rural economic development by helping producers plan, start, or grow value-added ventures. It sets out a significant national funding pool (about 18 million dollars at publication), a substantial per-award cap (up to 250,000 dollars), an expectation of numerous awards, and a competitive review process supported by independent, non-federal reviewers.Apply for RDBCP VAPG 2017
- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the agriculture 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) FAQs (Funding Opportunity Number RDBCP VAPG 2017, CFDA 10.352)
What is the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program?
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) is a discretionary funding program from USDA Rural Development, administered through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It is designed to help agricultural producers move beyond selling raw commodities by supporting projects that add value to what they grow or raise.
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to help producers increase revenue and strengthen rural businesses by funding activities tied to developing, marketing, and expanding value-added agricultural products. The program focuses on steps that help producers capture a larger share of the final consumer dollar.
What kinds of projects or activities does VAPG support?
This notice describes support for value-added activities such as processing, packaging, branding, marketing, or other steps that add value to an agricultural product and help a producer move beyond selling an unprocessed commodity.
Who is the sponsoring agency and which USDA office runs this program?
The sponsoring agency is USDA Rural Development. The program is run through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RDBCP VAPG 2017, and the CFDA number is 10.352.
How much total funding was available under this notice?
USDA indicated that approximately 18 million dollars was available at the time of publication, with the possibility of using additional funds if more become available after the notice is released.
Can the total funding amount change after publication?
Yes. The notice states the final amount could change depending on federal budget actions, such as a continuing resolution or an appropriations act. The official funding level would be posted on the USDA Rural Development VAPG webpage.
What type of award is this?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum grant award size under this notice?
The maximum award size listed is 250,000 dollars.
How many awards did USDA expect to make?
The agency expected to make about 200 awards under this competition.
Does the expected number of awards mean this is a competitive program?
Yes. Even though many awards were expected, the notice describes a structured, competitive review process. That implies applications need to be well-prepared, complete, and aligned with program objectives to score well.
Who is eligible to apply for VAPG under this notice?
Eligibility is focused on agricultural producers and producer-controlled entities. The notice specifically calls out Independent Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses.
What does "producer-controlled" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the notice description, producer-controlled entities are organizations that are primarily owned and controlled by producers. The intent is to ensure farmers and ranchers benefit directly from value-added business development rather than outside intermediaries.
What is an "Independent Producer" for purposes of this notice?
The notice lists Independent Producers as an eligible applicant type. In the context provided, this refers to agricultural producers themselves (i.e., individual producers) applying to support value-added activities tied to what they grow or raise.
Are cooperatives eligible to apply?
Yes. Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives are specifically listed as eligible.
Are agricultural producer groups eligible to apply?
Yes. Agricultural Producer Groups are specifically listed as eligible.
Are producer-based businesses eligible?
Yes, if they are majority-controlled by producers. The notice lists Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses as eligible.
What is the application deadline for this notice?
The original application deadline provided in the notice was January 24, 2018.
When was this opportunity originally created?
The opportunity was originally created on August 29, 2017.
How are applications reviewed and scored?
The notice indicates applications are evaluated and scored through a structured, competitive review process. A notable administrative detail is the solicitation of non-federal independent grant reviewers to evaluate and score applications.
Who are the reviewers mentioned in the notice?
The notice announces the solicitation of non-federal independent grant reviewers. These reviewers are brought in to evaluate and score applications submitted under the notice.
Why does the notice mention non-federal independent grant reviewers?
Because it signals that the competition uses independent, non-federal reviewers as part of the scoring process, and that application quality, completeness, and alignment with program goals matter in the final outcome.
What is the overall goal of the VAPG notice described here?
The notice describes a USDA funding opportunity designed to stimulate rural economic development by helping producers plan, start, or grow value-added ventures, with a national funding pool (about 18 million dollars at publication), a per-award cap (up to 250,000 dollars), and a competitive review process.
Where does USDA say the official funding level would be posted?
The notice states that the official funding level would be posted on the USDA Rural Development VAPG webpage.
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