STATE AG NEWS | Farmers interested in USDA Value-Added Producer Grants are encouraged to attend workshops provided by the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture to learn how to develop a strong application.
The Insight to Developing a Strong Application for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program will be conducted in three locations in January 2024. The closest one to Lynchburg will be held in Columbia on January 24. These in-person workshops are designed to help producers with value-added enterprises develop a strong grant application. The focus of the workshops will be helping producers develop their ideas for the grants, a competitive program that helps producers develop value-added activities related to processing and marketing new products.
During the workshops producers will get an overview of the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, receive tips for developing a strong application, hear from past recipients of the grant, learn tips on how to prepare the proposal, see how applications are scored and learn how to prepare the application one section at a time.
Grant and matching funds may be used for planning activities, such as a feasibility study or developing a business or marketing plan, or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product.
Register online for the Insight to Developing a Strong Application for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program at http://tiny.utk.edu/VAPGInsightReg.
Workshops will begin at 10 a.m. local time and conclude at 3 p.m. local time. Lunch will be provided. There is a registration fee of $20/person, and registration must be completed five days prior to the workshop date.
Dates and locations of the meetings are:
- January 23, 2024, Jackson, Tennessee
- January 24, 2024, Columbia, Tennessee
- January 29, 2024, Philadelphia, Tennessee
Attendance at one of the three meetings will fulfill a Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) special requirement in the Value-Added Producer Diversification Sector in Application B.
More information about the workshops is available at Center for Profitable Agriculture. Farmers and producers with questions should contact Troy Dugger at the Center for Profitable Agriculture at 931-486-2777 or by email at [email protected]. •
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