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Approximately $18.4 million is available through the program this year for grants to assist independent producers, agriculture producer groups, farmer and rancher-owned cooperatives, and majority controlled producer-based business ventures with the production, processing and marketing of value-added agricultural products.  Value added products include those created through a change in physical state, through differentiated production or marketing, or physical segregation.

Both working capital grants of up to $300,000 and planning grants not exceeding $100,000 are available through the program, with documentation of either cash or in-kind matching funds required.  Please note the matching fund requirement mandates cash availability be documented at the time the application is submitted to USDA, and matching funds must be spent prior to grant fund disbursement.

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 31, 2008, and all potential applicants are strongly urged to contact their Rural Development State Office to discuss their projects and make inquires concerning the application process.  Applications may be submitted to the state offices at any time prior to February 15, 2008 for an initial evaluation of eligibility and completeness, with these preliminary reviews in no way effecting final award determinations.  RCBS also encourages potential applicants to access the “eligibility assessment” and “application checklist” tools available on its website (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/applicants.htm) prior to embarking on the application process.