Value-Added Producer Grant

The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program for Fiscal Year 2026, administered by the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service, offers approximately $25 million in competitive grants. These grants, with maximum awards of $50,000 for planning and $200,000 for working capital, aim to assist agricultural producers and related entities in developing value-added agricultural products. Applications must be submitted by April 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET via the Grant Application Portal. Eligibility requires an active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Funds are reserved for specific applicant categories (Beginning, Veteran, Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers/Ranchers, Mid-Tier Value Chain, and Food Safety Projects), and a 1:1 matching fund is required. Applications are scored based on project viability, personnel qualifications, work plan, budget, matching fund commitment, prior VAPG assistance, and administrator priority categories. The program emphasizes economic viability and sustainability, with projects expected to generate new products, expand markets, and increase producer income.