Rebuilt HTML — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

Purpose

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program is intended to provide grant funds to agricultural producers for planning activities and working capital expenses to assist them in receiving a greater share of the consumer's dollar for value-added agricultural products.

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Product Eligibility

• Change in physical state
• Produced in a manner that enhances value - must reference a business plan
• Physical segregation
• Ag commodity that is a source of renewable energy
• Locally-produced agricultural food product
• Customer base must be expanded
• Greater portion of the revenue must be available to the producer

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Matching Eligibility

• Matching funds of at least 50% of total project costs are required
• Match must be spent at a rate equal to or greater than grant funds
• Match must be provided by the applicant or a third-party in the form of cash or in-kind funds
• Match must be spent on eligible purposes and must be from eligible sources

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Market Expansion Proposals

• Must be Independent Producer
• W.C. only of $50,000 or more
• Market Expansion of existing product in production for a minimum of two years
• Must submit business & marketing plan
• Feasibility study not required.

Committed to the future of rural communities.

What is the REAP Program?

• Created as a U.S. Department of Agriculture program.
• Program designed to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses with energy projects
• This program provides grants and guaranteed loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Who is Eligible?

• Rural Small business and agricultural producers can apply (Rural – population < 50,000)
• Agricultural Producer – An individual or entity directly in the production of agricultural products (including farming or ranching) that gets 50% of their gross income from the operations.

OR

• Small Business – A private entity including a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative (including most Rural Electric Cooperatives), and certain other electric utilities.
• Must meet SBA size standards for small Business www.sba.gov/size/indextableofsize.html
• Non-profits excluded

Committed to the future of rural communities.

What Projects are Eligible?

• Any renewable energy and energy efficiency project as defined in the law.
• Requirements for eligible projects:
• Must be located in a rural area.
• Must be for a pre-commercial or commercially available and replicable technology.
• Must be technically feasible.
• Must have sufficient revenues to provide for operation and maintenance.
• The applicant must be the owner of the project and control the operation and maintenance of the proposed project.

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Grants - Limits

• Grants request must not exceed 25% of the eligible project costs
• –Renewable Energy:
• Minimum grant request $2,500
• Maximum grant request: $500,000
• If request is over $50,000, regulation requires a project-specific feasibility study prepared by a qualified independent consultant
• –Energy Efficiency:
• Minimum grant request $1,500
• Maximum grant request: $250,000
• If total project costs are over $50,000, regulation requires an energy audit. Less than $50,000, an Energy Assessment is required.

Committed to the future of rural communities.

Guaranteed Loans - Limits

• Guaranteed loans are limited to 75% of the total eligible project cost
• Maximum guarantee is $25 million
• Guaranteed Loan/Grant combination limited to a total of 75% of the total eligible project cost (25% Grant and 50% Guaranteed Loan).

Committed to the future of rural communities.