USDA hosting grant workshop in Carson City for Nevada businesses

USDA Rural Development will hold a workshop on its Value Added Producer Grant June 11 to help Nevada farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs learn about the program and whether they wish to apply for grants funds. More than $30 million nationwide is available to fund the grants.

VAPG grants can be used to develop new product lines from raw agricultural products or additional uses for already developed product lines. Military veterans, socially disadvantaged, and beginning farmers and ranchers; operators of small and medium-sized family farms and ranches; farmer and rancher cooperatives; and applicants that propose mid-tier value chain projects are given special priority in applying for VAPGs.

Last year three Nevada producers were approved for the grant -- The Frey Estate Distillery in Fallon received a $49,000 grant to market its winery and distillery products and improve sales efficiency; the McCleary Ranch north of Carson City received a small grant to develop marketing materials for the historic ranch; and Tahoe Cheese in Carson City received $49,700 for working capital to assist with increased production and marketing of the company’s cheeses.

The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carson City State Office, 1390 S. Curry St. The session will be available via videoconference at the same time at the USDA Service Center in Elko, 555 W. Silver; and in the Las Vegas Service Center, 7080 La Cienega St. A lunch break will be from noon to 1 p.m. The morning session will cover an overview of the program, in the afternoon the participants will learn how to apply for the funds. To RSVP, call Mark Williams at 775-887-1222, ext. 116.

July 7 is the deadline to submit paper grant applications. Electronic applications are due July 2 at grants.gov.

For more information about the grant, go to http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants.