The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2023 Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant Program.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/15/2023
Size of the Grant:$10,000-$150,000
Details:
AGRI Value-Added Grant provides funding for value-added businesses (including bioenergy producers) to invest in equipment. The program is intended to increase sales of Minnesota agricultural products by investing in production capacity, market diversification, and market access for value-added products. For the purposes of this grant, value-added is defined as the addition of value to an agricultural product through processing.
Grant Priority
AGRI Value-Added Grant program serves Minnesota processors that add value to Minnesota agricultural products and will prioritize:
- Woman-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and businesses that meaningfully serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) or Native American Tribal communities.
- Projects that increase food safety.
Funding Information
They expect to award a total of $1 million in Fiscal Year 2023. Grants may reimburse up to 25% of eligible expenses. The maximum award is $150,000, and the minimum award is $1,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Intend to or be engaged in the processing of Minnesota agricultural products.
- Be an individual (including farmers), business, agricultural cooperative, non-profit, educational institution, or a local unit of government.
- Be in good standing with the State of Minnesota.
- No back taxes owed.
- No defaults on Minnesota State-backed financing for the last seven years.
- Acceptable performance on past MDA grants.
- Compliant with current state regulations now and through the entirety of the grant.
- Currently reside in Minnesota or be authorized to conduct business in Minnesota.
- MDA employees and their spouses are not eligible to receive grants from this program.
Eligible Projects and Expenses
- Projects must:
- Aim to increase sales of Minnesota agricultural products by increasing production capacity, diversifying markets, or increasing market access for value-added products.
- Not start until the grant contract is signed by all parties and has reached its start date.
- Be completed in three years or less. Contracts cannot be extended beyond three years.
- Be conducted in Minnesota.
- Project examples include but are not limited to:
- Purchase and installation of equipment used in the production of value-added agricultural products
- Aquaponics systems
- Creamery or milk product processing and packaging equipment
- Livestock slaughter equipment
- Grading, packing, labeling, packaging, or sorting equipment
- Equipment that helps to maintain the identity and traceability of products
- Processing equipment or physical improvements to a value-added processing facility to reduce food safety risks
- Cooler walls and refrigeration units
- Contractor costs and materials for installation of approved equipment, including plumbing, drainage, venting, and electrical work
- Refrigerated trucks to access new markets (not routine replacement)
- Equipment that improves process efficiency at biofuel plants
- Renewable energy production equipment, particularly bio thermal where the biomass is sustainably sourced from agricultural products (including biomass sourced from agroforestry).
For more information, visit MDA.
