Money is out there for producers through USDA, and it’s intended to strengthen the domestic supply chain. Don’t let this money sit. The head of Wisconsin’s Rural Development Office, Julie Lassa shares what’s available for producers to apply for.
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (DUE APRIL 11) helps eligible processors expand their capacity: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/508_rd_factsheet_mppep.pdf
Lassa says this investment aims to make the supply chain more resilient against shocks, and keep food affordable for consumers. She says meat processing in particular experienced a bottleneck during the pandemic. She adds USDA wants more food processors in the supply chain to prevent a bottleneck from happening again and to relieve any lasting strains.
The Value-Added Producer Grant (DUE APRIL 25) helps producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added products: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/value-added-fact-sheet-fy-2022.pdf
This is meant to help ag producers and rural small businesses generate new products, expand marketing or increase producer income. Lassa says these efforts also helps create new jobs and create a “circular economy.” Over the last two years, Wisconsin has had 36 projects totaling $6.6 million in investments.
As an example of this grant’s success, Lassa reflects on her visit to Dream Apple Farm near Port Washington. This apple orchard’s distribution, processing and marketing expansion was possible through a $49,500 Value-Added Producer Grant. The funding also helped the family employ three more people.
The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is ongoing — you can apply through your lender: https://www.rd.usda.gov/food-supply-chain-guaranteed-loans
This is a part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative. Lassa says this program guarantees loans up to $40 million through qualified lenders to finance food system projects for start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. This incudes food aggregation, whole sale, distribution or processing, to name a few.
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