Date: June 11, 2003
Contact:
Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
Topic:
USDA Rural Development to Host
Value-Added Grant Program Workshops
Topeka, KS. –
USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced today that the
Agency, in partnership with the KSU Cooperative Development Center and the
Kansas Department of Commerce Ag Marketing Division, will host two workshops to
assist Kansans in applying for the Agency’s “Value-Added Producer Grant
Program”. Information to be presented at the workshops will help
agricultural producers and producer groups to develop successful applications
for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program which will be available later
in this calendar year.
“USDA Rural Development is committed to assist production
agriculture in becoming more profitable through value-added business
opportunities. This program can provide greater economic returns for Kansas
farmers and livestock producers and stimulate the creation of new jobs, along
with enhancing rural economic prosperity and quality of life”, stated State
Director Banks.
In Fiscal Year 2002, USDA Rural Development awarded $37.2
million in nationally competitive grants to help independent producers enter
into commodity-based value-added businesses. Proposals were received from
eligible independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher
cooperatives, and majority controlled producer based business ventures. Eight
Kansas applicants received $2.5 million in grants, ranking the State third
nationally.
The two USDA Rural Development value-added workshops will
be held:
-
Hays / July 1, 2003: 10:00 a.m. to 3:30
p.m., Fort Hays State University, Albertson Hall, Room 169
-
Emporia / July 2, 2003: 10:00 a.m. to
3:30 p.m., Lyon County Extension Office, 618 Commercial
For additional information regarding the Value-Added
Producer Grant Program, contact USDA Rural Development at 620-784-5431,
extension #37, or email the Agency at 2002farmbillRD@ks.usda.gov
Rural Development is the economic development agency for
USDA, and the lead federal entity for rural development. For additional
information, you may log onto the state's Rural Development website at:
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks.
