The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it is making an additional $35 million available this year in the Value-Added Producer Grant Program to support agricultural producers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is made possible through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. In total, $76 million is available.
Also today, the Department is extending the application deadline to May 4, 2021, for paper submissions. Applications are also permitted via Grant.gov and must be received by 11:59 Eastern time on April 29, 2021. USDA originally opened the application window on Dec. 21, 2020, with an application due date of March 22, 2021.
The amended notice published today also reduces the matching requirement for applicants seeking the $35 million in COVID-19 relief funding.
Applicants are encouraged to start the application process now. Before you apply:
• Request a Unique Entity ID number if your organization doesn’t already have one. It should not take more than a few business days to get your number.
• register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM) if you are not already registered.
Application toolkits are available on the Value-Added Producer Grant program webpage. Applicants must follow requirements in both the original notice and the amended notice. For additional information on the amended notice, see page 12905 of the March 5, 2021, Federal Register.
In Pennsylvania, please contact your local area business loan specialist for more information or assistance completing the application.
Value-Added Producer Grants may be used to develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Veterans, socially disadvantaged groups, beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given special priority.
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