State of Nebraska
Agricultural Opportunities and Value-Added Partnership Act
Application Information & Form

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 funding cycle. A total of $1 million is available; funds will be shared between the Building Entrepreneurial Communities Act (BECA) and Value-Added Agriculture (VAA) grant programs. VAA grant requests may seek a maximum of $75,000 with a minimum required match of 25%. The application deadline is noon, Friday, September 25, 2009. For more information, contact the individuals listed below.

NOTE: A total of 22 projects received funding in 2008. Click here to see a complete listing.

PURPOSE: This grant program is intended to support the collaborative development of farming and ranching; the start-up and growth of value-added agricultural enterprises; and growth of rural communities and regions.

LB 90 was passed by the Nebraska Legislature on May 25, 2005 and signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman. This will be the fifth round of founding offered since the programs’s inception. Funding is available to support projects in the following areas:

• Community and multi-community initiatives;
• Creation, retention, and transfer of value-added agricultural business initiatives in rural communities;
• Efforts to obtain start-up or working capital or other capital expenditures necessary for the development of the project;
• Community-based, farmer-owned, or rancher-owned value-added initiatives; (grant funds cannot be used for start-up or working capital costs – limited to funds to help attain capital);
• Market development;
• Development of cooperatives;
• Education and training;
• Research;
• Non-administrative business planning assistance, feasibility and market studies, capitalization plans, and technical assistance; and
• Other activities deemed necessary to fulfill the purposes of this act.

Projects shall demonstrate the ability to provide private new enterprise formation or expanded incomes and economic opportunities for existing enterprises.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Project must result in benefit to more than a single enterprise, person or entity.
• Maximum grant is $75,000.
• Grants will be for one year from date of announcement.
• Grants requesting additional funding must compete with other grant applications in future cycles.
• Match may not come from other state or federal funds.
• Collaborating entities must share equally in the value of the total match contribution. (Match may be a combination of cash and in-kind.)
• Only one grant may be awarded per project in any one fiscal year.
• Administrative costs are not eligible for grant support or as match.
• Identification of measurable goals and expected outcomes is required in the grant application.
• Identification of how the project will be evaluated is required in the grant application.
• Value must be added to Nebraska farm and/or ranch production.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

• Communities
• Counties
• Agencies
• Educational institutions
• Economic development providers
• Nonprofit organizations
• Agricultural cooperatives
• Agricultural associations
• Agricultural marketing associations or entities
• Resource conservation organizations
• Development districts
• Farming or ranching operations that meet the purposes of this act 

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES:
Grants shall be used to support projects in the following areas:

• Community and multi-community initiatives;
• Creation, retention, and transfer of value-added agricultural business initiatives in rural communities;
• Efforts to obtain start-up or working capital or other capital expenditures necessary for the development of the project;
• Community-based, farmer-owned, or rancher-owned value-added initiatives;  (grant funds cannot be used for start-up or working capital costs – limited to funds to help attain capital);
• Market development;
• Development of cooperatives;
• Education and training;
• Research;
• Non-administrative business planning assistance, feasibility and market studies, capitalization plans, and technical assistance; and
• Other activities deemed necessary to fulfill the purposes of this act.

Projects shall demonstrate the ability to provide private new enterprise formation or expanded incomes and economic opportunities for existing enterprises.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Linda Fettig
Nebraska Rural Development Commission
308-380-4966 (phone and cell)
308-749-2223 (fax)
linda.fettig@nebraska.gov

Or, if you are a producer of food inputs or a value-added food product and would like assistance preparing your grant application, please contact:

The Food Processing Center at 402-472-2832 or Suzanne Weeder Einspahr directly at 402-472-5806 or sweeder1@unl.edu

There is a fee for this service.

DOCUMENTS:
Agricultural Opportunities and Value-Added Partnership Act (LB 90) Application Form & Guidelines

LINKS:
Nebraska Rural Development Commission
Nebraska Department of Economic Development