The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for its Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant program.
The program offers designated grants to help Minnesota processors add value to Minnesota agricultural products by investing in the purchase of equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access for value-added products.
Applicants must:
- Be an individual (including farmers), business, agricultural cooperative, or a local unit of government (including Tribal governments) engaged in value-added processing
- Currently reside in Minnesota or be authorized to conduct business in Minnesota
The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $1,000,000 using a competitive review process. The maximum equipment award is $150,000, and the minimum award is $1,000.
Grantees are responsible for at least 75% of the total project cost as a cash match. Funding for the AGRI Value-Added Grant will be awarded in one round.
The AGRI Value-Added Grant application must be received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Decisions are expected in early May.
We require proposals to be submitted through our online application system.
If a grant application submitted during the 2021 AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant round was not selected, it will automatically be considered for this AGRI Value-Added Grant round.
For more information, visit the AGRI Value-Added Grant Program website. Funding for the grants was established through the AGRI Program to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy industries.
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
