Value-Added Producer Grants (10.352)
Value-Added Producer Grants (Assistance Listing 10.352) is run by the Rural Business Cooperative Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $62.8 million in 376 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $167,093 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $242,657. Half of the 376 awards fell between $49,999 and $250,000, and they ranged from $1,025 to $250,000.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$62.8 million
- Grant awards376
- Typical award$242,657
- Awarded in FY 2025$12.1 million
- Size rank957 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $13.4 million in fiscal 2021 to $12.1 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 957th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 12% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 47 states and territories.
What the program funds
To help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Applicants are not eligible if they have been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from participation in Federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, “Debarment and Suspension.” Applicants are not eligible if they have an outstanding judgement obtained by the U.S. in a Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court), are delinquent on the payment of Federal income taxes, or are delinquent on a Federal debt. Any corporation that has been convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24 months or that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, is not eligible for funding.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The VAPG program offers two types of grants to support activities directly related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added agricultural products. Planning grants provide funding for activities necessary to determine the economic viability of a potential value-added venture, including development of feasibility studies and business plans. Working capital grants provide funds for the day-to-day operating expenses of the venture associated with processing and/or marketing a value-added product. An application may be for either Planning or Working Capital activities, but not for both. Funds may not be used for agricultural production, construction, the purchase of real property, or the purchase/lease of fixed equipment and vehicles.;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing. Matching Requirements: Percent: 50 Matching requirements are mandatory. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listingMOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Average = $120,000; Range = $5,000 (minimum) to $250,000 (maximum)
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: This Rural Development investment will be used for planning to assist a farm. They will work on a feasibility study, business plan, marketing strategy for scaling their wine business. They will be contributing $69,040.00 towards this project. This Rural Development investment will be used to provide Value Added Producer Grant. Funds will provide working capital funds to be used for marketing, purchasing supplies, assisting with transportation and shipping, for Value-Added Agricultural Product processing related to making various shelf stable beef snack products. This product expansion will bring growth to this farm operation, as well as additional jobs.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Value-Added Producer Grants (10.352) awarded$62.8 million across 376 grant awards, an average of $167,093 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast Producers | California | 3 | $750,000 |
| Sunsweet Growers Inc | California | 3 | $750,000 |
| Orchard Pond Organics LLC | Florida | 3 | $736,276 |
| Whippoorwill Farms SC LLC | South Carolina | 2 | $500,000 |
| Farmers Rice Cooperative | California | 2 | $500,000 |
| Runamok Maple, LLC | Vermont | 2 | $498,600 |
| City Roots, LLC | South Carolina | 2 | $497,260 |
| Alaska Beauty Peony Cooperative | Alaska | 2 | $325,000 |
| Douglas Crabtree | Montana | 2 | $282,000 |
| Breadtree Farms LLC | New York | 2 | $257,430 |
| Chateau Bianca, Inc. | Oregon | 1 | $250,000 |
| Farmers Brewing Company, LLC | California | 1 | $250,000 |
| Ralston Family Farms LLC | Arkansas | 1 | $250,000 |
| Choate Family Farms, LLC | Georgia | 1 | $250,000 |
| Fresha | Minnesota | 1 | $250,000 |
| Acevedo Quiles, Jaime a | Puerto Rico | 1 | $250,000 |
| North American Bison, LLC | North Dakota | 1 | $250,000 |
| Thao Flowers LLC | Washington | 1 | $250,000 |
| Hickory Nut Gap Farm, L.L.C. | North Carolina | 1 | $250,000 |
| Happy Cow Creamery, Inc. | South Carolina | 2 | $250,000 |
Who usually wins
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 376 | $62.8 million | 100% |
By state
21 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 37 | $7.3 million |
| California | 35 | $5.9 million |
| Puerto Rico | 19 | $4.0 million |
| Virginia | 19 | $3.7 million |
| Washington | 26 | $3.4 million |
| New York | 19 | $3.1 million |
| Montana | 16 | $2.8 million |
| North Carolina | 13 | $2.5 million |
| Wisconsin | 11 | $2.3 million |
| Maine | 10 | $2.1 million |
| Oregon | 15 | $2.1 million |
| Vermont | 8 | $1.8 million |
| Florida | 8 | $1.6 million |
| Georgia | 7 | $1.4 million |
| Missouri | 9 | $1.3 million |
| Minnesota | 7 | $1.3 million |
| Mississippi | 6 | $1.3 million |
| Michigan | 5 | $1.2 million |
| Kentucky | 8 | $1.2 million |
| Texas | 8 | $1.1 million |
| Alaska | 5 | $950,000 |
| Nebraska | 10 | $918,502 |
| Tennessee | 5 | $784,387 |
| Colorado | 4 | $774,000 |
| Iowa | 5 | $706,919 |
| Ohio | 4 | $693,490 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | $611,674 |
| New Hampshire | 4 | $580,057 |
| Idaho | 3 | $549,737 |
| North Dakota | 2 | $500,000 |
| Illinois | 2 | $499,556 |
| Kansas | 5 | $490,212 |
| Indiana | 3 | $442,875 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $402,118 |
| West Virginia | 4 | $369,990 |
| Alabama | 2 | $333,500 |
| Maryland | 4 | $327,118 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $322,951 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $250,000 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $250,000 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $232,294 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $215,679 |
| New Jersey | 3 | $120,333 |
| South Dakota | 2 | $98,525 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $48,170 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $46,875 |
| Nevada | 1 | $10,654 |