# Value-Added Producer Grant

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rdbcp-vapg-2025-value-added-producer-grant/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358236

> Rural Business-Cooperative Service offered grants of up to $250,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 190 awards worth $30.0 million in total. Applications closed on April 17, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RDBCP-VAPG-2025 |
| Agency | Rural Business-Cooperative Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | April 17, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $250,000 |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 190 |
| Total funding | $30.0 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.352 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives, or Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business

## What the grant funds

Program Overview The objective of this grant program is to assist viable Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses in starting or expanding value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products. Grants will be awarded competitively for either planning or working capital projects directly related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of the program. All proposals must demonstrate economic viability and sustainability to compete for funding. To Apply Applications for the VAPG program must be completed through the Grant Application Portal (GAP). Before starting your application, we encourage, but do not require you to complete a VAPG Self-Assessment survey to help confirm potential eligibility for the program. In addition, we recommend reaching out to your local Business Program Specialist to discuss your project. Please visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants and ensure that your State is selected in the dropdown menu to access the contact information for your local State Business Programs Specialist. To access the GAP and start an application you will be directed to log into the portal through eAuthentication. All applicants will need Level 2 eAuthentication access (eAuth). If you do not have eAuth, you will be required to create an account at https://www.eauth.usda.gov/. Please note: USDA eAuth is the system used by USDA agencies to enable individual customers and employees to obtain accounts that will allow them to securely access USDA Web applications and services via the Internet. The eAuth policy defines four assurance levels, Level 2 access is required for the GAP and provides some confidence in the asserted identity's validity. Once you’ve completed your log in process, you will be directed to the GAP Homepage where you can start an application or return to an application in process. Applications will not be accepted via Grants.gov Starting an application in GAP Please be aware, applications in GAP must be started by the Authorized Representative of the applicant entity who has signature authority.

## Questions people ask

### Is RDBCP-VAPG-2025 still open?

No. It closed on April 17, 2025.

### Who can apply for Value-Added Producer Grant?

Rural Business-Cooperative Service accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Value-Added Producer Grant?

Closed April 17, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $250,000 each. About $30.0 million in total across about 190 awards.

### Who has won Value-Added Producer Grants grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Pacific Coast Producers, Sunsweet Growers Inc, Orchard Pond Organics LLC. The program made 376 awards worth $62.8 million in that time.