Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 11, 1 November 2008 — USDA grants [ARTICLE]

USDA grants

Applications are being accepted for a U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development grant program that aims to help producers receive a greater share of revenues by expanding into "value-added agricultural products." Value-added items include those that change the physical fonn of a product, such as turning sweet potatoes into potato chips or strawberries into jam. Another example is going organic, free range or grass fed, and thereby enhancing a product's value. Two types of grants are available. Planning grants of up to $100,000 cover activities such as creating a business plan, feasibility study, marketing plan or legal

fees connected with establishing a value-added venture. Working capital grants of up to $300,000 may be used for expenses such as labor, inventory, office equipment and marketing and consulting fees. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups and majoritycontrolled producer-based business ventures. A dollar-for-dollar match is required in the form of cash, line of credit or third-party contributions such as time, equip-

ment, space or staff salaries. Other federal grants cannot be used as a match. For application and deadline infonnation for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, eall USDA Rural Development for your island: Moloka'i, Maui and Lāna'i, 808-553-5321; Hawai'i Island, 808-933-8312; O'ahu and Kaua'i, 808-483-8600 ext.l 18.