Announcement of Value-Added Producer Grant Application Deadlines, 45165-45177 [E9-21030]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 168 / Tuesday, September 1, 2009 / Notices
Transfer at the Beltsville address given
above; telephone: 301–504–5989.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Federal Government’s rights in this
plant variety are assigned to the United
States of America, as represented by the
Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the
public interest to so license this variety
as T. A. Seeds LLC of Jersey Shore,
Pennsylvania has submitted a complete
and sufficient application for a license.
The prospective exclusive license will
be royalty-bearing and will comply with
the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C.
209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective
exclusive license may be granted unless,
within thirty (30) days from the date of
this published Notice, the Agricultural
Research Service receives written
evidence and argument which
establishes that the grant of the license
would not be consistent with the
requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37
CFR 404.7.
Richard J. Brenner,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9–20928 Filed 8–31–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Proposed New Fee; Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act,
(Title VIII, Pub. L. 108–447)
AGENCY: Dixie National Forest, USDA
Forest Service.
ACTION: Notice of proposed new fee.
public comment. The fee is proposed
and will be determined upon further
analysis and public comment. Funds
from fees would be used for the
continued operation and maintenance
and improvements of this guard station.
DATES: Comments will be accepted
through October 15, 2009. New fees
would begin May 2010.
ADDRESSES: Pine Valley Ranger District,
Attn: Recreation Fee Program, 196 E.
Tabernacle, Suite 38, St. George, Utah
84770 or https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/
contact/feedback.shtml (include
‘‘Recreation Fee Program’’ in the subject
line).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gretchen Merrill, Public Service Staff
Officer, 435–865–3741. Information
about proposed fee changes can also be
found on the Intermountain Region Web
site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/recreation/
rac/index.shtml.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement
Act (Title VII, Pub. L. 108–447) directed
the Secretary of Agriculture to publish
a six month advance notice in the
Federal Register whenever new
recreation fee areas are established.
Once public involvement is complete,
these new fees will be reviewed by a
Recreation Resource Advisory
Committee prior to a final decision and
implementation.
Dated: August 19, 2009.
Robert G. MacWhorter,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–20853 Filed 8–31–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
The Dixie National Forest is
proposing to charge a fee for overnight
rental of the Pine Valley Guard Station
of $75 in the summer and $40 in the
winter. This guard station has not been
available for recreation use prior to this
date. Rentals of other guard stations on
the Dixie National Forest have been very
popular, illustrating that people
appreciate and enjoy the availability of
these historic buildings.
The Pine Valley Guard Station is
located at the edge of the Pine Valley
Wilderness Area and within the Pine
Valley Recreation Area, and will sleep
up to six people. The site is located in
Washington County, Utah. The guard
station will have hot and cold running
water in the summer, flush toilet,
shower, electricity, refrigerator, and
wood stove. Bunks and all cooking and
eating utensils will be provided for
renters.
Determination of the fee price is based
on the level of amenities and services
provided, cost of operations and
maintenance, market assessment, and
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SUMMARY:
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Announcement of Value-Added
Producer Grant Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of
Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) and
republication of Notice of Funds
Available (NOFA) Announcement of
Value-Added Producer Grant
Application Deadlines.
SUMMARY: Rural Development (RD)
previously withdrew the May 6, 2009
Federal Register notice (74 FR 20900),
which was published in error,
announcing the availability of
approximately $18 million in
competitive grants for fiscal year (FY)
2009 to help independent agricultural
producers enter into value-added
activities. This notice announces the
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availability of approximately $18
million in competitive grants for fiscal
year (FY) 2009 to help independent
agricultural producers enter into or
expand value-added activities, with the
following clarifications and alterations:
(1) Highlights the inclusion of
Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers, as well as
operators of Small and Medium-sized
farms or ranches that are structured as
a Family Farm, and provides more
weight in the scoring process, (2) deletes
contradictory language related to the
eligibility of applicants under the newly
allowable mid-tier value chain
provision by clarifying that the
applicant entity must be eligible under
the legislatively-stated categories (but
the network they are part of can include
virtually any type of organization), (3)
establishes the upper limit of ‘‘mediumsized farm’’ at between $250,001 and
$700,000 in annual gross sales of
agricultural product, (4) revises the list
of renewable energy technologies that
are eligible for funding, (5) clarifies that
different documentation standards
apply for Planning Grants versus
Working Capital Grants, (6) deletes
‘‘Innovation’’ as a specific scoring
criteria, (7) allows branding, packaging
and other means of product
differentiation as a component of a
value added strategy in all product
eligibility categories, and (8) provides a
90-day application period.
USDA Rural Development welcomes
projects that highlight innovative uses
of agricultural products. This may
include using existing agricultural
products in non-traditional ways and/or
merging agricultural products with
technology in creative ways. As with all
value-added efforts, generating new
products, creating expanded marketing
opportunities and increasing producer
income are the end goal. Applications
proposing to develop innovative,
sustainable products, businesses, or
marketing opportunities that accelerate
creation of new economic opportunities
and commercialization in the agri-food,
agri-science, or agriculture products
integrated or merged with other sciences
or technologies are invited. This may
include alternative uses of agricultural
products as well as, value-added
processing of agricultural commodities
to produce bio-materials (e.g. plastics,
fiberboard), green chemicals, functional
foods (e.g. lutin enhanced ‘‘power bar’’
snacks, soy enhanced products),
nutraceuticals, on-farm renewable
energy, and biofuels (e.g. ethanol, biodiesel).
Awards may be made for planning
activities or for working capital
expenses, but not for both. The
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maximum grant amount for a planning
grant is $100,000 and the maximum
grant amount for a working capital grant
is $300,000.
Ten percent of available funds are
reserved to fund applications submitted
by Beginning Farmers or Ranchers and
Socially Disadvantaged Farmers or
Ranchers, with working definitions
derived from 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) and
2003(e) and provided in section I of this
notice. An additional ten percent of
available funds are reserved to fund
Mid-Tier Value Chain projects, as
defined in section I of this notice (both
collectively referred to as ‘‘reserved
funds’’).
DATES: Applications for grants must be
submitted on paper or electronically
according to the following deadlines:
Paper applications for both reserved
and unreserved funds must be
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
sent overnight no later than November
30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant
funding. Late applications are not
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
Electronic applications for both
reserved and unreserved funds must be
received by November 30, 2009, to be
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2009
grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be
submitted to the Rural Development
State Office for the State in which the
Project will primarily take place.
Addresses may be found at: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
Electronic applications must be
submitted through the Grants.gov Web
site at: https://www.grants.gov, following
the instructions therein.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
assistance, applicants should visit the
program Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
vadg.htm. In addition, applicants
should contact their USDA Rural
Development State Office by calling
800–670–6553 and pressing ‘‘1,’’ or by
selecting the Contact Information link at
the above Web site.
Applicants are encouraged to contact
their State Offices well in advance of the
deadline to discuss their projects and
ask any questions about the application
process. Applicants may submit drafts
of their applications to their State
Offices for a preliminary review anytime
prior to October 1, 2009. The
preliminary review will only assess the
eligibility of the application and its
completeness. The results of the
preliminary review are not binding on
the Agency.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Farms and Ranches that are structured
Federal Agency: USDA Rural Business as a Family Farm, as defined in this
notice. Priority points will be assigned
Cooperative Services.
to eligible applicants in those categories.
Funding Opportunity Title: ValueAs with all value-added efforts,
Added Producer Grants.
generating new products, creating
Announcement Type: Reissued
expanded marketing opportunities and
announcement.
increasing producer income are the end
Catalog of Federal Domestic
goal. Please note that businesses of all
Assistance Number: 10.352.
Dates: Applications for grants must be sizes may apply. In FY 2008, 31 percent
of awards were $50,000 or less.
submitted on paper or electronically
according to the following deadlines:
Definitions
Paper applications for both reserved
The definitions at 7 CFR 4284.3 and
and unreserved funds must be
4284.904 are incorporated by reference,
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
with the exception of the definition of
sent overnight no later than November
Value-Added, which is superseded by
30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant the definition of Value-Added
funding. Late applications are not
Agricultural Product as published in the
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
2008 Farm Bill and is included below.
Electronic applications for both
In addition, the Agency uses the
reserved and unreserved funds must be
following terms in this NOSA:
received by November 30, 2009, to be
Agricultural Commodity, Beginning
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late
Farmer or Rancher, Business Plan,
applications are not eligible for FY 2009 Conflict of Interest, Family Farm,
grant funding.
Feasibility Study, Local and Regional
Supply Network, Locally Produced
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Agricultural Food Product, Marketing
This solicitation is issued pursuant to Plan, Medium-Sized Farm, Mid-Tier
section 231 of the Agriculture Risk
Value Chain, Pro Forma Financial
Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–224) Statements, Project, Small Farm,
as amended by section 6202 of the Food, Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
Rancher, and Venture. It is the Agency’s
(Pub. L. 110–246) (see 7 U.S.C. 1621
position that those terms are defined as
note)) authorizing the establishment of
follows.
the Value-Added Agricultural Product
Agricultural Commodity—An
Market Development grants, also known unprocessed product of farms, ranches,
as Value-Added Producer Grants. The
nurseries, and forests. Agricultural
Secretary of Agriculture has delegated
Commodities include: Livestock,
the program’s administration to USDA
poultry, and fish; fruits and vegetables;
Rural Development Cooperative
grains, such as wheat, barley, oats, rye,
Programs.
triticale, rice, corn, and sorghum;
The primary objective of this grant
legumes, such as field beans and peas;
program is to help Independent
animal feed and forage crops; seed
Producers of Agricultural Commodities, crops; fiber crops, such as cotton; oil
Agriculture Producer Groups, Farmer
crops, such as safflower, sunflower,
and Rancher Cooperatives, and
corn, and cottonseed; trees grown for
Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
lumber and wood products; nursery
Business Ventures develop strategies to
stock grown commercially; Christmas
create marketing opportunities and to
trees; ornamentals and cut flowers; and
help develop Business Plans for viable
turf grown commercially for sod.
marketing opportunities regarding
Agricultural Commodities do not
production of bio-based products from
include horses or animals raised as pets,
agricultural commodities. Cooperative
such as cats, dogs, and ferrets.
Programs will competitively award
Beginning Farmer or Rancher—An
funds for Planning Grants and Working
entity in which: (1) All owners have
Capital Grants. In order to provide
operated a farm or a ranch for not more
program benefits to as many eligible
than 10 years; and (2) all owners
applicants as possible, applicants must
materially and substantially participate
apply only for a Planning Grant or for
in the operation of a farm or a ranch;
a Working Capital Grant, but not both.
and (3) all owners provide substantial
Grants will only be awarded if Projects
day-to-day labor and management of a
are determined to be economically
farm or a ranch. For VAPG, a Beginning
viable and sustainable.
Farmer or Rancher must currently be
USDA Rural Development is
producing the agricultural commodity
encouraging applications from
to which value will be added.
Business Plan—A formal statement of
Beginning Farmers or Ranchers, Socially
a set of business goals, the reasons why
Disadvantaged Farmers or Ranchers,
and operators of Small or Medium-Sized they are believed attainable, and the
Overview
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plan for reaching those goals, including
three years of pro forma financial
statements. It may also contain
background information about the
organization or team attempting to reach
those goals.
Conflict of Interest—A situation in
which a person or entity has competing
professional or personal interests that
make it difficult for the person or
business to act impartially. An example
of a Conflict of Interest is a grant
recipient or an employee of a recipient
that conducts or significantly
participates in conducting a Feasibility
Study for the recipient.
Family Farm—See 7 CFR 761.2.
Feasibility Study—An independent,
third party analysis that shows how the
Venture would operate under a set of
assumptions—the technology used (the
facilities, equipment, production
process, etc.), the qualifications of the
management team, and the financial
aspects (capital needs, volume, cost of
goods, wages, etc.). The analysis should
answer the following questions about
the Venture.
(1) Where is it now?
(2) Where do the owners of the
Venture want to go?
(3) Why do the owners of the Venture
want to go forward with the Venture?
(4) How will the owners of the
Venture accomplish the Venture?
(5) What resources are needed?
(6) Who will provide assistance?
(7) When will the Venture be
completed?
(8) How much will the Venture cost?
(9) What are the risks?
Local and Regional Supply Network—
An interconnected group of food-related
entities through which food products
move from production through
consumption in a local or regional area
of the U.S. Examples of food-related
entities include, but are not limited to,
Agricultural Producers, processors,
distributors, wholesalers, retailers,
consumers, and any other related
organizations, including entities that
organize or provide technical assistance
for such networks or help to establish
new or emerging networks. Locally
Produced Agricultural Food Product—
Any agricultural food product that is
raised, produced, and distributed in—
(1) The locality or region in which the
final product is marketed, so that the
total distance that the product is
transported is less than 400 miles from
the origin of the product; or
(2) The State in which the product is
produced.
Marketing Plan—A plan for the
Venture conducted by a qualified
consultant that identifies a market
window, potential buyers, a description
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of the distribution system and possible
promotional campaigns.
Medium-Sized Farm—A farm or ranch
that has averaged between $250,001 and
$700,000 in annual gross sales of
agricultural products in the previous
three years.
Mid-Tier Value Chain—Local and
regional supply networks that link
independent producers with businesses
and cooperatives that market ValueAdded Agricultural Products in a
manner that—
(1) Targets and strengthens the
profitability and competitiveness of
small and medium-sized farms and
ranches that are structured as a family
farm; and
(2) Obtains agreement from an eligible
Agricultural Producer Group, Farmer or
Rancher Cooperative, or MajorityControlled Producer-Based Business
Venture that is engaged in the value
chain on a marketing strategy.
(3) For Mid-Tier Value Chain projects
the Agency recognizes that, in a supply
chain network, a variety of raw
agricultural commodity and valueadded product ownership and transfer
arrangements may be necessary.
Consequently, applicant ownership of
the raw agricultural commodity and
value-added product from raw through
value-added is not necessarily required,
as long as the mid-tier value chain
proposal can demonstrate an increase in
customer base and an increase in
revenue returns to the applicant
producers supplying the majority of the
raw agricultural commodity for the
project.
Pro Forma Financial Statements—
Financial statements that identify the
future financial position of a company.
They are part of the Business Plan and
include an explanation of all
assumptions, such as input prices,
finished product prices, and other
economic factors used to generate the
financial statements. They must include
projections in the form of cash flow
statements, income statements, and
balance sheets. Income statements and
cash flow statements must be monthly
for the first year, then annual for future
years. The balance sheet should be
annual for all years.
Project—Includes all proposed
activities to be funded by the VAPG and
Matching Funds.
Small Farm—A farm or ranch that has
averaged $250,000 or less in annual
gross sales of agricultural products in
the previous three years.
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or
Rancher—A farmer or rancher who is a
member of a ‘‘socially disadvantaged
group.’’ In this definition, the term
farmer or rancher means a person that
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is directly engaged in farming or
ranching or an entity solely owned by
individuals who are directly engaged in
farming or ranching. A socially
disadvantaged group means a group
whose members have been subjected to
racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice
because of their identity as members of
a group without regard to their
individual qualities. In the event that
there are multiple farmer or rancher
owners of the applicant organization,
the Agency requires that at least 51
percent of the owners are members of a
socially disadvantaged group.
Value-Added Agricultural Product—
Any agricultural commodity or product
that—
(1)(i) Has undergone a change in
physical state;
(ii) Was produced in a manner that
enhances the value of the agricultural
commodity or product, as demonstrated
through a Business Plan that shows the
enhanced value, as determined by the
Secretary;
(iii) Is physically segregated in a
manner that results in the enhancement
of the value of the Agricultural
Commodity or product;
(iv) Is a source of farm- or ranch-based
renewable energy, including E–85 fuel;
or
(v) Is aggregated and marketed as a
locally-produced agricultural food
product; and
(2) As a result of the change in
physical state or the manner in which
the Agricultural Commodity or product
was produced, marketed, or
segregated—
(i) The customer base for the
agricultural commodity or product is
expanded; and
(ii) A greater portion of the revenue
derived from the marketing, processing,
or physical segregation of the
agricultural commodity or product is
available to the producer of the
commodity or product.
Venture—Includes the Project and
any other activities related to the
production, processing, and marketing
of the Value-Added product that is the
subject of the VAPG grant request.
Please note that not all Venture-related
expenses will be eligible for this
program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2009.
Approximate Total Funding: $18
million.
Approximate Number of Awards: 80.
Approximate Average Award:
$140,000.
Floor of Award Range: None.
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Ceiling of Award Range: $100,000 for
Planning Grants and $300,000 for
Working Capital Grants.
Anticipated Award Date: January 7,
2010.
Budget Period Length: Not to exceed
3 years.
Project Period Length: Not to exceed
3 years.
III. Eligibility Information
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A. Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be an Independent
Producer, Agriculture Producer Group,
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or
Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Venture as defined in 7 CFR
part 4284, subpart A. An applicant
applying as an Independent Producer
must be 100 percent owned by
Independent Producers. The owner(s)
must currently own and produce more
than 50 percent of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be used for the
Value-Added Agricultural Product, and
that product must be owned by the
Independent Producer owners from its
raw commodity state through the
marketing of the final product.
Examples of Independent Producers are
steering committees, sole
proprietorships, LLCs, LLPs, other forprofit corporations, and non-profit
corporations.
An applicant applying as an
Agriculture Producer Group must have
a mission that includes working on
behalf of Independent Producers. The
majority of its membership and board of
directors must meet the definition of an
Independent Producer. The applicant
must identify the Independent
Producers on whose behalf the proposed
Project will be completed. Note that this
type of applicant may not apply on
behalf of its entire membership. The
Independent Producers on whose behalf
the proposed Project will be completed
must currently own and produce more
than 50 percent of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be used for the
Value-Added Agricultural Product, and
that product must be owned by the
Independent Producer owners from its
raw commodity state through the
marketing of the final product.
Examples of Agricultural Producer
Groups are trade or commodity
associations.
An applicant applying as a Farmer or
Rancher Cooperative must demonstrate
that it is a farmer or rancher-owned and
controlled business from which benefits
are derived and distributed equitably on
the basis of use by each of the farmer or
rancher owners. The cooperative must
be in good standing and incorporated as
a cooperative in its state of
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incorporation. The owners must
currently own and produce more than
50 percent of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be used for the
Value-Added Agricultural Product, and
that product must be owned by the
Independent Producer owners from its
raw state through the marketing of the
final product.
Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives that
are 100 percent owned by farmers and
ranchers must apply as Farmer or
Rancher Cooperatives. It is the Agency’s
position that if a cooperative is 100
percent owned and controlled by
agricultural harvesters (e.g., fishermen,
loggers), it is eligible only as an
Independent Producer and not as a
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative. If a
cooperative is not 100 percent owned
and controlled by farmers and ranchers
or 100 percent owned and controlled by
agricultural harvesters, it may still be
eligible to apply as a MajorityControlled Producer-Based Business
Venture, provided it meets the
definition in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart
A.
An applicant applying as a MajorityControlled Producer-Based Business
Venture must have more than 50
percent of its ownership and control
held by Independent Producers; or
partnerships, LLCs, LLPs, corporations,
or cooperatives that are themselves 100
percent owned and controlled by
Independent Producers. The
Independent Producer owners must
currently own and produce more than
50 percent of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be used for the
Value-Added Agricultural Product, and
that product must be owned by the
Independent Producer owners from its
raw commodity state through the
marketing of the final product.
Examples of Majority-Controlled
Producer-Based Business Ventures are
LLCs, LLPs, and other for-profit
corporations. No more than 10 percent
of program funds can go to applicants
that are Majority-Controlled ProducerBased Business Ventures.
Applicants other than Independent
Producers must limit their Projects to
Emerging Markets. All applicants must
demonstrate an increase in customer
base and an increase in revenue returns
to the producers.
If the applicant is an unincorporated
group (steering committee), it must form
a legal entity before the Grant
Agreement can be approved by the
Agency. A steering committee may only
apply as an Independent Producer.
Therefore, the steering committee must
be 100 percent composed of
Independent Producers and the business
to be formed must meet the definition
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of Independent Producer, as defined in
7 CFR 4284, subpart A.
Entities that contract out the
production of an Agricultural
Commodity are not considered
Independent Producers.
Any businesses that are selected for
awards must provide documentation
that they are in good standing with the
state of incorporation.
In addition to the above requirements,
applicants may direct that their
applications be considered for reserved
funds if they provide documentation
and discussion to demonstrate that they
meet the definition of a Beginning
Farmer or Rancher, or a Socially
Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher as
defined in Section I of this notice.
In addition to the above requirements,
applications may be considered for
reserved funds if the applicant provides
discussion and documentation to
demonstrate that the proposed project
meets the definition of a Mid-Tier Value
Chain as defined in Section I of this
notice. Applicants must be an eligible
Independent Producer, Farmer or
Rancher Cooperative, Agricultural
Producer Group, or Majority Controlled
Producer-Based Business Venture and
must demonstrate that they propose to
develop an interconnected food-related
supply network of business enterprises
through which food products move from
production through consumption in a
local and/or regional area in the United
States. This supply network must link
independent producers with businesses
and cooperatives that market ValueAdded Agricultural Products in a
manner that targets and strengthens the
profitability and competitiveness of
Small and Medium-Sized Farms and
Ranches that are structured as a Family
Farm. The eligible Agricultural Producer
Group, Farmer or Rancher Cooperative,
or Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Venture applicant must obtain
at least one agreement from another
member of the network engaged in the
value chain on a marketing strategy. The
eligible Independent Producer applicant
must obtain at least one agreement from
an eligible Agricultural Producer Group,
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or
Majority-Controlled Producer Based
Business Venture engaged in the valuechain on a marketing strategy. For
Planning Grants, examples of
agreements include, but are not limited
to, letters of intent to partner on
marketing, distribution, or processing.
For Working Capital Grants, examples of
agreements include, but are not limited
to, marketing agreements, distribution
agreements, and processing agreements.
For Mid-Tier Value Chain projects,
the applicant must currently own and
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produce more than 50% of the raw
commodity that will be used for the
value-added product that is the subject
of the proposal. Because the Agency
recognizes that, in a supply chain
network, a variety of raw agricultural
commodity and value-added product
ownership and transfer arrangements
may be necessary, applicant ownership
of the raw agricultural commodity and
value-added product from raw through
value-added is not necessarily required,
as long as the proposal can demonstrate
an increase in customer base and an
increase in revenue returns to the
applicant producers supplying the
majority of the raw agricultural
commodity for the project.
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B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching Funds are required, must be
at least equal to the amount of grant
funds requested, and are subject to the
same use restrictions as grant funds.
Applicants must verify in their
applications that eligible Matching
Funds are available for the time period
of the grant. Unless provided by other
authorizing legislation, other Federal
grant funds cannot be used as Matching
Funds. Matching Funds must be spent
at a rate equal to or greater than the rate
at which grant funds are expended. If
Matching Funds are provided in an
amount exceeding the minimum
requirement the applicant must spend
their Matching Funds contribution at a
proportional rate. For example, if an
applicant proposes to provide 75
percent of the total Project cost in
Matching Funds and a grant is awarded,
the Agency expects that the grantee will
expend at least $0.75 of Matching Funds
for every $0.25 of grant funds expended.
Matching Funds must be provided by
either the applicant or by a third party
in the form of cash or eligible in-kind
contributions. Applicants that are
awarded grants may not change the
source, type, or amount of Matching
Funds proposed in their applications
without prior written approval from the
Agency. Matching Funds must be spent
on eligible expenses and must be from
eligible sources.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Product Eligibility: The project
proposed must involve a Value-Added
product as defined in Section I of this
notice. There are five methods through
which value-added can be
demonstrated. Regardless of which
method is used, an expansion of
customer base and an increase in
revenue to the agricultural producers
must also be demonstrated.
1. A change in physical state occurs
when an Agricultural Commodity
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cannot be returned to its original state.
Examples of value-added products in
this category are fish fillets, diced
tomatoes, ethanol, bio-diesel, and wool
rugs. Common production or harvesting
methods are not considered a change in
physical state. For example, dehydrated
corn, bottled milk, raw fiber, Christmas
trees, and cut flowers are not eligible in
this category.
2. Production in a manner that
enhances the value of the Agricultural
Commodity occurs when a nonstandard
production method adds value per unit
of production over a standard
production method. It is the Agency’s
position that only Working Capital
applications are eligible for this category
because the enhanced value must be
demonstrated using information from a
Feasibility Study and Business Plan
developed for the Venture. Examples are
organic carrots, eggs produced from
free-range chickens, and beef produced
from cattle fed a ‘‘natural’’ diet.
3. Physical segregation that enhances
the value of the Agricultural Commodity
occurs when a physical barrier (i.e.
distance or a structure) separates a
commodity from other varieties of the
same commodity on the same farm
during production and that the
separation continues through the
harvesting, processing, and marketing of
the product or commodity. An example
is genetically-modified corn and nongenetically modified corn produced on
the same farm, but physically separated
so that no cross-pollination occurs.
4. A source of farm- or ranch-based
renewable energy is an Agricultural
Commodity or Product used to generate
energy on a farm or ranch. Technologies
that convert agricultural commodities
and products into energy (e.g. biomass,
such as anerobic digesters, algae, etc.)
are eligible in this category. On-farm
generation of energy through wind,
solar, geothermaland hydroelectric are
eligible ONLY when they are used in
the production of a value-added
product. Wind, solar, geothermal and
hydroelectric are not eligible if they are
simply converted to electricity and sold
off the farm. Fuels that are not generated
on a farm or ranch owned or leased by
the owners of the Venture are not
eligible under this category, but may be
considered under the first category.
5. Aggregation and marketing of
locally-produced agricultural food
products occurs when any food product
made from an Agricultural Commodity
is raised, produced, and marketed
within 400 miles of the farm that
produced the commodity or within the
same State as that farm. Applications
should demonstrate and quantify how
local sales and marketing of an
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agricultural commodity or product will
result in added value to the product.
Examples include local grapes with
specific characteristics attributable to
the growing area, sold to a processor
that will produce a select/vintage local
wine, or local sweet corn advertised and
sold at a premium as a fresher, locally
produced alternative to non-local
produce. Please note that organic
produce or other types of products that
are produced in a manner that enhances
their value can apply for grants under
this category as long as 100 percent of
the marketing of the product will occur
within 400 miles of the farm that
produced the Agricultural Commodity.
Note: Applications that propose only
branding, packaging, or other similar means
of product differentiation are not eligible in
any category. However, applications may
propose branding, packaging, or other
product differentiation activities as a
component of a value-added strategy for
products otherwise eligible in one of the
above categories. Eligible activities must be
directly related to the processing and
marketing of the value-added agricultural
commodity or product, and cannot include
evaluation or analysis of related agricultural
production activities for the agricultural
commodity.
Purpose Eligibility: The application
must specify whether grant funds are
requested for planning or for working
capital activities. Applicants may not
request funds for both types of activities
in one application. Working capital
expenses are not considered eligible for
Planning Grants and planning expenses
are not considered eligible for Working
Capital Grants. Applications requesting
more than the maximum grant amount
will be considered ineligible.
It is the Agency’s position that
applicants other than Independent
Producers applying for a Working
Capital Grant must demonstrate that the
Venture has not been in operation more
than two years at the time of application
in order to show that the applicant is
entering an Emerging Market. All
applicants must demonstrate an
increase in customer base and an
increase in revenue returns to producers
from their project.
Grant Period Eligibility: Applicants
may propose a timeframe for the grant
project up to a maximum 36 months in
length. Projects cannot begin earlier
than March 1, 2010 and cannot end later
than February 28, 2013. Applications
that request funds for a time period
beginning prior to March 1, 2010 and/
or ending after February 28, 2013 will
be considered ineligible, as will
applications that exceed a maximum 36
months in length. Applicants may
propose a start date falling any time
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during March 1, 2010 through
September 30, 2010. If the project
period will be longer than one year, the
applicant must identify a separate,
unique task(s) for the first year and for
any subsequent year of the proposed
project. The Agency will consider
requests for an extension on a case-bycase basis if extenuating circumstances
prevent a grantee from completing an
award within the approved grant period,
but no extensions can be approved to
extend the grant period beyond a total
of three years.
Multiple Grant Eligibility: An
applicant can submit only one
application in response to this notice.
The application must designate whether
the application submitted should be
considered for the general funds
program or for one of the reserved
funding options.
Applicants who have already received
a Planning Grant for the proposed
Project cannot receive another Planning
Grant for the same Project. Applicants
who have already received a Working
Capital Grant for a Project cannot
receive any additional grants for that
Project.
Current Grant Eligibility: If an
applicant currently has a VAPG, it must
be completed prior to November 30,
2009.
Judgment Eligibility: In accordance
with 7 CFR 4284.6.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
A. Address To Request Application
Package
The application package for applying
on paper for this funding opportunity
can be obtained at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
vadg.htm. Alternatively, applicants may
contact their USDA Rural Development
State Office. The State Office can be
reached by calling 800–670–6553 and
pressing ‘‘1.’’ For electronic
applications, applicants must visit
https://www.grants.gov and follow the
instructions therein.
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B. Content and Form of Submission
Applications must be submitted on
paper or electronically. An Application
Guide may be viewed at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
vadg.htm. It is strongly recommended
that applicants use the template
provided on the Web site. The template
can be filled out electronically and
printed out for submission with the
required forms for a paper submission
or it can be filled out electronically and
submitted as an attachment through
Grants.gov.
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If an application is submitted on
paper, one signed original and one copy
of the complete application must be
submitted.
If the application is submitted
electronically, the applicant must follow
the instructions given at https://
www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly
advised to visit the site well in advance
of the application deadline to insure
that they have obtained the proper
authentication and have sufficient
computer resources to complete the
application.
The Agency will conduct an initial
screening of all applications for
eligibility and to determine whether the
application is complete and sufficiently
responsive to the requirements set forth
in this notice to allow for an informed
review. Information submitted as part of
the application will be protected from
disclosure to the extent permitted by
law.
Applicants must complete and submit
the elements listed below, except as
noted in the next paragraph. Please note
that the requirements in the following
locations within 7 CFR part 4284 have
been combined with other requirements
to simplify the application and reduce
duplication: 7 CFR 4284.910(c)(5)(i),
4284.910(c)(5)(ii), and
4284.910(c)(5)(iv).
Applicants requesting less than
$50,000 are not required to submit the
following items at the time of
application. However, if selected for an
award, the applicants will be required to
submit these items as part of the
conditions of the award: Form SF–424A
(section IV, B.2), Form SF–424B (section
IV, B.3), Title Page (section IV, B.4),
Goals of the Project (section IV, B.8.i),
and Performance Evaluation Criteria
(section IV, B.8.ii).
1. Form SF–424, ‘‘Application for
Federal Assistance.’’ The form must be
completed, signed and submitted as part
of the application package. All
applicants are also required to have an
Employer Identification Number (or a
Social Security Number if the applicant
is an individual or steering committee)
and a DUNS number (including
individuals and sole proprietorships).
The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number which uniquely
identifies business entities. To obtain a
DUNS number, access https://
www.dnb.com/us, or call (866) 705–
5711.
2. Form SF–424A, ‘‘Budget
Information—Non-Construction
Programs.’’ This form must be
completed and submitted as part of the
application package.
3. Form SF–424B, ‘‘Assurances—NonConstruction Programs.’’ This form
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must be completed, signed, and
submitted as part of the application
package.
4. Title Page (limited to one page).
The title page must include the title of
the project and may include other
relevant identifying information.
5. Table of Contents. A detailed Table
of Contents (TOC) immediately
following the title page is required.
6. Executive Summary (limited to one
page). The Executive Summary should
briefly describe the Project, including
goals, tasks to be completed and other
relevant information that provides a
general overview of the Project. The
applicant must specify whether they
intend to compete in the General Funds
or one of the Reserved Funds
competitions and clearly state whether
the application is for a Planning Grant
or a Working Capital Grant and the grant
amount requested.
7. Eligibility Discussion (limited to six
pages). The applicant must provide the
following information so that the
Agency can assess the eligibility of the
applicant and the proposed Project.
Answers of zero or none may not
disqualify an applicant, depending on
what type of applicant organization is
applying.
i. Applicant Eligibility. Applicants
must provide the following information
so that the Agency can determine the
eligibility of the applicant organization
for assistance.
• Describe the applicant in a brief
statement (for example, individual farm
or membership organization, etc.) and
identify its legal structure (for example
sole proprietorship, LLC, LLP,
cooperative, non-profit organization, or
others described in detail).
• Identify the owners or members
who will be contributing the
Agricultural Commodity to which value
will be added to the Project. Applicants
must provide the names of the
individuals who are owners or
members, as well as the percentage of
their ownership in the organization. If
the applicant organization is owned by
entities other than individuals, it must
identify those entities and provide a list
of the individuals who own each entity.
If the list is longer than a few lines, it
should be attached as an appendix to
the application and will not be counted
toward the page limit of this section.
• A statement that certifies that these
owners or members are actively and
currently engaged in the production of
the Agricultural Commodity.
• Describe how the applicant
organization is governed or managed,
including a description of whom and
how many owners/members have voting
rights, if applicable.
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• The number of individuals on the
governing board (e.g. board of directors).
• The number of individuals on the
governing board who have voting rights
and are currently engaged in the
production of the Agricultural
Commodity to which value will be
added and will be providing that
commodity to the Project.
• If the applicant organization is a
membership organization, include the
organization’s mission statement, which
must be copied from the organization’s
articles of incorporation, bylaws, or
other governing documents.
• The amount of the Agricultural
Commodity needed for the Project.
Planning applications must provide an
estimate.
• The amount of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be provided by the
owners or members of the applicant
organization. Planning applications
must provide an estimate.
• The amount of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be purchased or
donated from third-party sources.
• How the owners or members
providing the Agricultural Commodity
to the Project will maintain ownership
of the commodity from its raw state to
marketing the Value-Added Agricultural
Product.
ii. Product Eligibility. Applicants must
provide the following information so
that the Agency can determine the
eligibility of the Value-Added
Agricultural Product to be marketed.
• The Agricultural Commodity to
which value will be added.
• Describe the method or process
through which value will be added.
This must include at least one of the
following: A change in physical state, a
non-standard production method that
enhances the commodity’s value,
physical segregation, on-farm or onranch generation of renewable energy,
and/or a locally-produced agricultural
food product.
• The dollar amount of value added
per production unit to the Agricultural
Commodity that is attributed to the
value-added process. Applicants for
planning grants must estimate this
amount while applicants for working
capital grants must use the amount from
their Feasibility Study and Business
Plan results.
• The Value-Added Agricultural
Product that will be produced.
• Describe the expansion of customer
base for the Value-Added Agricultural
Product. Those applying for a planning
grant must provide an estimate for the
expansion of customer base. Those
applying for a working capital grant
must supply the relevant information
from the Feasibility Study and Business
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Plan that was completed for the
Venture. If no expansion of customer
base exists or is likely to exist, the
application is not eligible for funding.
• The amount of the increased
portion of revenue derived from
marketing the Value-Added Agricultural
Product that will be available to the
producers of the Agricultural
Commodity to which value is added.
Applicants for a planning grant must
provide an estimate for the increase in
revenue. Those applying for a working
capital grant must supply the relevant
information from the Feasibility Study
and Business Plan that was completed
for the Venture. If no increase in
revenue exists or is likely to exist, the
application is not eligible for funding.
iii. Purpose Eligibility. Applicants
should specify whether grant funds will
be used for eligible planning activities
or working capital activities directly
related to the processing and/or
marketing of the value-added product.
Applicants should specify the grant
amount requested. The Agency will also
evaluate the budget and work plan
submitted in response to the Proposal
Evaluation Criteria to determine
eligibility. In addition, applicants for
working capital activities should
provide the following information that
will be evaluated when determining
Purpose Eligibility.
• A statement that an independent,
third-party Feasibility Study has been
conducted for the proposed Venture.
The applicant must provide the name of
the party who conducted the Feasibility
Study and the date it was completed.
The Feasibility Study should not be
submitted with the application, but the
Agency may request it at any time in
order to facilitate its eligibility review.
• A statement that a Business Plan
has been developed for the proposed
Venture. The applicant must provide
the name of the party who developed
the Business Plan and the date it was
completed. The Business Plan should
not be submitted with the application,
but the Agency may request it at any
time in order to facilitate its eligibility
review.
• Describe how long the applicant
organization has been engaged in the
Venture that is the subject of the
application.
iv. Reserved Funds Eligibility (The
information below will not count
towards proposal page limitation
constraints.)
(a) In addition to the above
information, if applying for Beginning
Farmer or Rancher or Socially
Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher
reserved funds, provide documentation
demonstrating that the applicant
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organization meets the definition of a
Beginning Farmer or Rancher or a
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or
Rancher.
(b) In addition to the above
information, if applying for Mid-Tier
Value Chain reserved funds, applicants
must:
(1) Demonstrate that the project
proposes development of a Local or
Regional Supply Network of
interconnected food-related business
enterprises through which food
products move from production through
consumption in a local or regional area
of the USA, including a description of
the network, its component members,
and its purpose;
(2) Describe at least two alliances,
linkages or partnerships within the
value chain that link independent
producers with businesses and
cooperatives that market Value-Added
Agricultural Products in a manner that
benefits Small- or Medium-Sized Farms
that are structured as a Family Farm,
including the names of the parties and
the nature of their collaboration;
(3) Demonstrate how the project, due
to the manner in which the VA product
is marketed, will increase the
profitability and competitiveness of at
least two eligible Small- or MediumSized Farms or Ranches that are
structured as a Family Farm ;
(4) Document that the eligible
Agriculture Producer Group (APG)/
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative (COOP)/
Majority-Controlled Producer Based
Business Venture (MCPBBV) applicant
organization has obtained at least one
agreement with another member of the
supply network that is engaged in the
value chain on a marketing strategy; or
that the eligible Independent Producer
applicant has obtained at least one
agreement from an eligible APG/COOP/
MCPBBV engaged in the value-chain on
a marketing strategy;
(5) Demonstrate that the applicant
currently owns and produces more than
50% of the raw agricultural commodity
that will be used for the value-added
product that is the subject of the
proposal; and
(6) Demonstrate that the project will
result in an increase in customer base
and an increase in revenue returns to
the applicant producers supplying the
majority of the raw agricultural
commodity for the project.
8. Proposal Narrative (limited to 15
pages).
i. Goals of the Project. The application
must include a clear statement of the
ultimate goals of the Project, including
an explanation of how a market will be
expanded and the degree to which
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incremental revenue will accrue to the
benefit of the Agricultural Producer(s).
ii. Performance Evaluation Criteria.
Applicants applying for Planning Grants
must suggest at least one criterion by
which their performance under a grant
could be evaluated. Applicants applying
for Working Capital Grants must
identify the projected increase in
customer base, revenue accruing to
Independent Producers, and number of
jobs attributed to the Project. Working
capital projects with significant energy
components must also identify the
projected increase in capacity (e.g.
gallons of ethanol produced annually,
megawatt hours produced annually)
attributed to the Project. Please note that
these criteria are different from the
Proposal Evaluation Criteria and are a
separate requirement.
iii. Proposal Evaluation Criteria. Each
of the proposal evaluation criteria
referenced in Section V.A. of this
funding announcement must be
addressed, specifically and
individually, in narrative form.
Applications that do not address the
appropriate criteria (Planning Grant
applications must address Planning
Grant evaluation criteria and Working
Capital Grant applications must address
Working Capital Grant evaluation
criteria) will be considered ineligible.
9. Certification of Matching Funds.
Applicants must certify that Matching
Funds will be available at the same time
grant funds are anticipated to be spent
and that Matching Funds will be spent
in advance of grant funding, such that
for every dollar of grant funds advanced,
not less than an equal amount of
Matching Funds will have been
expended prior to submitting the
request for reimbursement. This
certification is a separate requirement
from the verification of Matching Funds
requirement. To fulfill this requirement,
applicants must include a statement for
this section that reads as follows:
‘‘[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT]
certifies that matching funds will be
available at the same time grant funds
are anticipated to be spent and that
matching funds will be spent in advance
of grant funding, such that for every
dollar of grant funds advanced, not less
than an equal amount of matching funds
will have been expended prior to
submitting the request for
reimbursement.’’ A separate signature is
not required.
10. Verification of Matching Funds.
Applicants must provide documentation
of all proposed Matching Funds, both
cash and in-kind. The documentation
below must be included in the
Appendix. Template letters for each
type of matching funds are available at
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https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
verifymatch031407.htm.
i. Matching funds provided by the
applicant in cash. A copy of a bank
statement with an ending date within
one month of the application
submission and showing an ending
balance equal to or greater than the
amount of cash Matching Funds
proposed is required.
ii. Matching funds provided through a
loan or line of credit. The applicant
must include a signed letter from the
lending institution verifying the amount
available, the purposes for which funds
may be used, and the time period of
availability of the funds. Specific dates
(month/day/year) corresponding to the
proposed grant period or to dates within
the grant period when matching funds
will be made available, must be
included.
iii. Matching funds provided by the
applicant through an in-kind
contribution. The application must
include a signed letter from the
applicant verifying the goods or services
to be donated, the value of the goods or
services, and when the goods and
services will be donated. Specific dates
(month/day/year) corresponding to the
proposed grant period or to dates within
the grant period when matching
contributions will be made available,
must be included. Note that applicant
in-kind match for planning grants
should not include values for applicant
time spent on feasibility or business
planning activities due to a possible
conflict of interest. Although applicants
may participate with their consultant in
the feasibility and business planning
activities, they may not include their
time as an in-kind match contribution to
the project. This represents a possible
conflict of interest and should be
avoided in the application. Also note
that if the applicant organization is
purchasing goods or services for the
grant (e.g. salaries, inventory), the
contribution is considered a cash
contribution and must be verified as
described in paragraph i. above. Also, if
an owner or employee of the applicant
organization is donating goods or
services, the contribution is considered
a third-party in-kind contribution and
must be verified as described in
paragraph v. below.
iv. Matching funds provided by a
third party in cash. The application
must include a signed letter from that
third party verifying how much cash
will be donated and when it will be
donated. Specific dates (month/day/
year) corresponding to the proposed
grant period or to dates within the grant
period when matching funds will be
made available, must be included.
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v. Matching Funds provided by a third
party in-kind donation. The application
must include a signed letter from the
third party verifying the goods or
services to be donated, the value of the
goods or services, and when the goods
and services will be donated. Specific
dates (month/day/year) corresponding
to the proposed grant period or to dates
within the grant period when matching
contributions will be made available,
must be included.
Verification for cash or in-kind
contributions donated outside the
proposed time period of the grant will
not be accepted. Verification for in-kind
contributions that are over-valued will
not be accepted. The valuation process
for the in-kind funds does not need to
be included in the application,
especially if it is lengthy, but the
applicant must be able to demonstrate
how the valuation was achieved at the
time of notification of tentative selection
for the grant award. If the applicant
cannot satisfactorily demonstrate how
the valuation was determined, the grant
award may be withdrawn or the amount
of the grant may be reduced.
Matching Funds are subject to the
same use restrictions as grant funds.
Matching Funds must be spent or
donated during the grant period and the
funds must be expended at a rate equal
to or greater than the rate grant funds
are expended. Some examples of
acceptable uses for matching funds are:
Skilled labor performing work required
for the proposed Project, office supplies,
and purchasing inventory. Some
examples of unacceptable uses of
matching funds are: Real property, fixed
equipment, buildings, and vehicles.
Expected program income may not be
used to fulfill the Matching Funds
requirement at the time of application.
If program income is earned during the
time period of the grant, it is subject to
the requirements of 7 CFR part 3015,
subpart F and 7 CFR 3019.24 and any
provisions in the Grant Agreement.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: November
30, 2009 for unreserved funds.
November 30, 2009 for reserved funds.
Explanation of Deadlines: Paper
applications must be postmarked,
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by
the deadline date (see Section IV.F. for
the address). Final electronic
applications must be received by
Grants.gov by the deadline date. If an
application does not meet the deadline
above, it will not be considered for
funding. Applicants will be notified that
their applications did not meet the
submission deadline.
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D. National Environmental Policy Act
All grants made under this NOFA are
subject to the requirements of 7 CFR
1940 subpart G. Applications for
planning purposes and technical
assistance are generally categorically
excluded from the environmental
review process by § 1940.333, provided
that the assistance is not related to the
development of a specific site.
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E. Intergovernmental Review of
Applications
Executive Order (EO) 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, applies to this program. This
EO requires that Federal agencies
provide opportunities for consultation
on proposed assistance with State and
local governments. Many States have
established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. A
list of States that maintain an SPOC may
be obtained at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html. If an applicant’s State has an
SPOC, the applicant may submit the
application directly for review. Any
comments obtained through the SPOC
must be provided to Rural Development
for consideration as part of the
application. If the applicant’s State has
not established an SPOC, or the
applicant does not want to submit the
application, Rural Development will
submit the application to the SPOC or
other appropriate agency or agencies.
Applicants are also encouraged to
contact their Rural Development State
Office for assistance and questions on
this process. The Rural Development
State Office can be reached by calling
800–670–6553 and selecting option ‘‘1’’
or by viewing the following Web site:
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.
F. Funding Restrictions
Funding restrictions apply to both
grant funds and matching funds. Funds
may only be used for planning activities
or working capital for Projects focusing
on processing and marketing a valueadded product.
1. Examples of acceptable planning
activities include:
i. Obtaining legal advice and
assistance related to the proposed
Venture;
ii. Conducting a Feasibility Study of
a proposed Value-Added Venture to
help determine the potential marketing
success of the Venture;
iii. Developing a Business Plan that
provides comprehensive details on the
management, planning, and other
operational aspects of a proposed
Venture; and
iv. Developing a marketing plan for
the proposed Value-Added product,
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including the identification of a market
window, the identification of potential
buyers, a description of the distribution
system, and possible promotional
campaigns.
2. Examples of acceptable working
capital uses include:
i. Designing or purchasing an
accounting system for the proposed
Venture;
ii. Paying for salaries, utilities, and
rental of office space;
iii. Purchasing inventory, office
equipment (e.g. computers, printers,
copiers, scanners), and office supplies
(e.g. paper, pens, file folders); and
iv. Conducting a marketing campaign
for the proposed Value-Added product.
3. No funds made available under this
solicitation shall be used to:
i. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or
construct a building or facility,
including a processing facility;
ii. Purchase, rent, or install fixed
equipment, including processing
equipment;
iii. Purchase vehicles, including
boats;
iv. Pay for the preparation of the grant
application;
v. Pay expenses not directly related to
the funded Venture;
vi. Fund political or lobbying
activities;
vii. Fund any activities prohibited by
7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019;
viii. Fund architectural or engineering
design work for a specific physical
facility;
ix. Fund any expenses related to the
production of any commodity or
product to which value will be added,
including seed, rootstock, labor for
harvesting the crop, and delivery of the
commodity to a processing facility. The
Agency considers these expenses to be
ineligible because the intent of the
program is to assist producers with
marketing value-added products rather
than producing Agricultural
Commodities;
x. Fund research and development;
xi. Purchase land;
xii. Duplicate current services or
replace or substitute support previously
provided;
xiii. Pay costs of the Project incurred
prior to the date of grant approval;
xiv. Pay for assistance to any private
business enterprise which does not have
at least 51 percent ownership by those
who are either citizens of the United
States or reside in the United States
after being legally admitted for
permanent residence;
xv. Pay any judgment or debt owed to
the United States; or
xvi. Conduct activities on behalf of
anyone other than a specific
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Independent Producer or group of
Independent Producers. The Agency
considers conducting industry-level
Feasibility Studies and Business Plans
that are also known as feasibility study
templates or guides or business plan
templates or guides to be ineligible
because the assistance is not provided to
a specific group of Independent
Producers.
xvii. Pay for any goods or services
provided by a person or entity who has
a Conflict of Interest. Also, note that inkind Matching Funds may not be
provided by a person or entity that has
a Conflict of Interest. See Section
IV.B.10.iii of this notice for additional
information.
G. Other Submission Requirements
Paper applications must be submitted
to the Rural Development State Office
for the State in which the Project will
primarily take place. Addresses can be
found online at: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html or
in the ADDRESSES section at the
beginning of this Notice.
Applications can also be submitted
electronically at https://www.grants.gov.
Applications submitted by electronic
mail or facsimile will not be accepted.
Each application submission must
contain all required documents in one
envelope, if by mail or courier delivery
service.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
All eligible and complete applications
will be evaluated based on the following
criteria. Applications for Planning
Grants have different criteria to address
than applications for Working Capital
Grants. Unless otherwise noted, all
scoring for both Planning and Working
Capital Grant applications will be done
on a graduated scale reflecting how the
criteria were addressed.
1. Criteria for Planning Grant
Applications
i. Nature of the proposed venture (0–
8 points). Projects will be evaluated for
technological feasibility, operational
efficiency, profitability, sustainability
and the likely improvement to the local
rural economy. Evaluators may rely on
their own knowledge and examples of
similar ventures described in the
proposal to form conclusions regarding
this criterion. Points will be awarded
based on the greatest expansion of
markets and increased returns to
producers.
ii. Qualifications of those doing work
(0–8 points). Proposals will be reviewed
for whether the personnel who are
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responsible for doing proposed tasks,
including those hired to do the studies,
have the necessary qualifications. If a
consultant or others are to be hired,
more points may be awarded if the
proposal includes evidence of their
availability and commitment as well. If
staff or consultants have not been
selected at the time of application, the
application should include specific
descriptions of the qualifications
required for the positions to be filled.
Qualifications of the personnel and
consultants should be discussed directly
within the response to this criterion. If
resumes are included, those pages will
count toward the page limit for the
narrative.
iii. Commitments and support (0–5
points). Producer commitments will be
evaluated on the basis of the number of
Independent Producers currently
involved as well as how many may
potentially be involved, and the nature,
level and quality of their contributions.
End-user commitments will be
evaluated on the basis of potential
markets and the potential amount of
output to be purchased. Proposals will
be reviewed for evidence that the
project enjoys third party support and
endorsement, with emphasis placed on
financial and in-kind support as well as
technical assistance. Support should be
discussed directly within the response
to this criterion. If support letters are
included, those pages will count toward
the page limit for the narrative. Points
will be awarded based on the greatest
level of documented and referenced
commitment.
iv. Project leadership (0–8 points).
The leadership abilities of individuals
(i.e. owners, not consultants) who are
proposing the Venture will be evaluated
as to whether they are sufficient to
support a conclusion of likely project
success. Credit may be given for
leadership evidenced in community or
volunteer efforts. Leadership abilities
should be discussed directly within the
response to this criterion. If resumes are
attached at the end of the application,
those pages will count toward the page
limit for the narrative.
v. Work plan/budget (0–8 points).
Applicants must submit a work plan
and budget. The work plan will be
reviewed to determine whether it
provides specific and detailed
descriptions of tasks that will
accomplish the project’s goals. The
budget must present a detailed
breakdown of all estimated costs
associated with the planning activities
and allocate these costs among the listed
tasks. The source and use of grant and
matching funds must be specified.
Points may not be awarded unless
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sufficient detail is provided to
determine if funds are being used for
qualified purposes. Matching funds as
well as grant funds must be accounted
for in the budget to receive points. If the
project period will be longer than one
year, the work plan and budget must
identify a separate, unique task(s) for
the first year and for any subsequent
year of the proposed project. Any
applications proposing a project of
longer than one year with duplicative or
similar activities in each year is
ineligible for funding.
vi. Amount requested (0 or 5 points).
Two points will be awarded for grant
requests of $50,000 or less. To
determine the number of points to
award, the Agency will use the amount
indicated in the work plan and budget.
vii. Project cost per owner-producer
(0–3 points). The applicant must state
the number of Independent Producers
that are owners of the Venture. Points
will be calculated by dividing the
amount of Federal funds requested by
the total number of Independent
Producers that are owners of the
Venture. The allocation of points for
this criterion shall be as follows:
• 0 points will be awarded to
applications without enough
information to determine the number of
owner-producers.
• 1 point will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $70,001–$100,000.
• 2 points will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $35,001–$70,000.
• 3 points will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $1–$35,000.
An owner cannot be considered an
Independent Producer unless he/she is
a producer of the Agricultural
Commodity to which value will be
added as part of this Project. For
Agriculture Producer Groups, the
number used must be the number of
Independent Producers represented who
produce the commodity to which value
will be added. In cases where family
members (including husband and wife)
are owners and producers in a Venture,
each family member shall count as one
owner-producer.
Applicants must be prepared to prove
that the numbers and individuals
identified meet the requirements
specified upon notification of a grant
award. Failure to do so shall result in
withdrawal of the grant award.
viii. Business management
capabilities (0–10 points). Applicants
must discuss their financial
management system, procurement
procedures, personnel policies, property
management system, and travel
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procedures. Up to two points can be
awarded for each component of this
criterion, based on the appropriateness
of the system, procedures or policies to
the size and structure of the business
applying. Larger, more complex
businesses will be expected to have
more complex systems, procedures, and
policies than smaller, less complex
businesses.
ix. Sustainability and economic
impact (0–15 points). Projects will be
evaluated based on the expected
sustainability of the Venture and the
expected economic impact on the local
economy.
x. Type of applicant (0 or 15 points).
If an application is from an applicant
that is a Beginning Farmer or Rancher,
a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or
Rancher, or an operator of a Small or
Medium-Sized Farm or Ranch that is
structured as a Family Farm, 15 points
will be awarded. Applicants must
provide documentation that they meet
one of these definitions to receive
points.
xi. Administrator points (up to 5
points, but not to exceed 10 percent of
the total points awarded for the other 10
criteria). The Administrator of USDA
Rural Development Business and
Cooperative Programs may award
additional points to recognize
renewable energy, insure geographic
distribution of grants, or encourage
Value-Added Projects in under-served
areas and groups. Applicants may
submit an explanation of how the
technology proposed is innovative and/
or specific information verifying that the
project is in an under-served area.
2. Criteria for Working Capital
Applications
i. Business viability (0–8 points).
Proposals will be evaluated on the basis
of the technical and economic feasibility
and sustainability of the Venture and
the efficiency of operations. When
responding to this criterion, applicants
should reference critical data and
information identified in the venturespecific feasibility study and business
plan.
ii. Customer base/increased returns
(0–8 points). Describe in detail how the
customer base for the product being
produced will expand because of the
Value-Added Venture. Provide
documented estimates of this
expansion. Describe in detail how a
greater portion of the revenue derived
from the venture will be returned to the
producers that are owners of the
Venture. Applicants should also
reference the pro forma financial
statements developed for the Venture.
Applications that demonstrate strong
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growth in a market or customer base and
greater Value-Added revenue accruing
to producer-owners will receive more
points than those that demonstrate less
growth in markets and realized ValueAdded returns.
iii. Commitments and support (0–5
points). Producer commitments will be
evaluated on the basis of the number of
Independent Producers currently
involved as well as how many may
potentially be involved, and the nature,
level and quality of their contributions.
End-user commitments will be
evaluated on the basis of identified
markets, letters of intent or contracts
from potential buyers and the amount of
output to be purchased. Applications
will be reviewed for evidence that the
Project enjoys third-party support and
endorsement, with emphasis placed on
financial and in-kind support as well as
technical assistance. Support should be
discussed directly within the response
to this criterion. If support letters are
included, those pages will count toward
the page limit for the narrative. Points
will be awarded based on the greatest
level of documented and referenced
commitment.
iv. Management team/work force (0–
8 points). The education and
capabilities of project managers and
those who will operate the Venture
must reflect the skills and experience
necessary to affect Project success. The
availability and quality of the labor
force needed to operate the Venture will
also be evaluated. Applicants must
provide the information necessary to
make these determinations.
Applications that reflect successful
track records managing similar projects
will receive higher points for this
criterion than those that do not reflect
successful track records.
v. Work plan/budget (0–8 points). The
work plan will be reviewed to
determine whether it provides specific
and detailed descriptions of tasks that
will accomplish the project’s goals and
the budget will be reviewed for a
detailed breakdown of estimated costs
associated with the proposed activities
and allocation of these costs among the
listed tasks. The source and use of grant
and matching funds must be specified.
Points may not be awarded unless
sufficient detail is provided to
determine if funds are being used for
qualified purposes. Matching Funds as
well as grant funds must be accounted
for in the budget to receive points. If the
project period will be longer than one
year, the work plan and budget must
identify a separate, unique task(s) for
the first year and for any subsequent
year of the proposed project. Any
applications proposing a project of
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longer than one year with duplicative or
similar activities in each year is
ineligible for funding.
vi. Amount requested (0 or 5 points).
Two points will be awarded for grant
requests of $150,000 or less. To
determine the number of points to
award, the Agency will use the amount
indicated in the work plan and budget.
vii. Project cost per owner-producer
(0–3 points). The applicant must state
the number of Independent Producers
that are owners of the Venture. Points
will be calculated by dividing the
amount of Federal funds requested by
the total number of Independent
Producers that are owners of the
Venture. The allocation of points for
this criterion shall be as follows:
• 0 points will be awarded to
applications without enough
information to determine the number of
owner-producers.
• 1 point will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $200,001–$300,000.
• 2 points will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $100,001–$200,000.
• 3 points will be awarded to
applications with a project cost per
owner-producer of $1–$100,000.
An owner cannot be considered an
Independent Producer unless he/she is
a producer of the Agricultural
Commodity to which value will be
added as part of this Project. For
Agriculture Producer Groups, the
number used must be the number of
Independent Producers represented who
produce the commodity to which value
will be added. In cases where family
members (including husband and wife)
are owners and producers in a Venture,
each family member shall count as one
owner-producer.
Applicants must be prepared to prove
that the numbers and individuals
identified meet the requirements
specified upon notification of a grant
award. Failure to do so shall result in
withdrawal of the grant award.
viii. Business management
capabilities (0–10 points). Applicants
should discuss their financial
management system, procurement
procedures, personnel policies, property
management system, and travel
procedures. Up to two points can be
awarded for each component of this
criterion, based on the appropriateness
of the system, procedures or policies to
the size and structure of business
applying. Larger, more complex
businesses will be expected to have
more complex systems, procedures, and
policies than smaller, less complex
businesses.
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ix. Sustainability and economic
impact (0–15 points). Projects will be
evaluated based on the expected
sustainability of the Venture and the
expected economic impact on the local
economy.
x. Type of applicant (0 or 15 points).
If an application is from an applicant
that is a Beginning Farmer or Rancher,
a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or
Rancher, or an operator of a Small or
Medium-Sized Farm or Ranch that is
structured as a Family Farm, 15 points
will be awarded. Applicants must
provide documentation that they meet
one of these definitions to receive
points.
xi. Administrator points (up to 5
points, but not to exceed 10 percent of
the total points awarded for the other 10
criteria). The Administrator of USDA
Rural Development Business and
Cooperative Programs may award
additional points to recognize
renewable energy, insure geographic
distribution of grants, or encourage
Value-Added projects in under-served
areas and groups. Applicants may
submit an explanation of how the
technology proposed is innovative and/
or specific information verifying that the
project is in an under-served area.
B. Review and Selection Process
The Agency will conduct an initial
screening of all applications for
eligibility and to determine whether the
application is complete and sufficiently
responsive to the requirements set forth
in this notice to allow for an informed
review. As part of this review, the Rural
Development State Office may require
Working Capital applicants to submit
their Feasibility Studies and Business
Plans after the application deadline, but
prior to the selection of grantees to
facilitate the eligibility review process.
All eligible and complete proposals
will be evaluated by three reviewers
based on criteria i through v described
in Section V.A.1. or 2. One of these
reviewers will be a Rural Development
employee not from the servicing State
Office and the other two reviewers will
be non-Federal persons. All reviewers
must either: (1) Possess at least five
years of working experience in an
agriculture-related field, or (2) have
obtained at least a bachelors degree in
one or more of the following fields:
Agri-business, business, economics,
finance, or marketing and have a
minimum of three years of experience in
an agriculture-related field (e.g. farming,
marketing, consulting, university
professor, research, officer for trade
association, government employee for
an agricultural program). Once the
scores for criteria i through v have been
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completed by the three reviewers, they
will be averaged to obtain the
independent reviewer score.
The application will also receive one
score from the Rural Development
servicing State Office based on criteria
vi through x. This score will be added
to the independent reviewer score.
Finally, the Administrator of USDA
Rural Development Business and
Cooperative Programs will award any
Administrator points based on Proposal
Evaluation Criterion xi. These points
will be added to the cumulative score
for criteria i through x. A final ranking
will be obtained based solely on the
scores received for criteria i through xi.
Applications will be funded in rank
order until available funds are
expended. Any unfunded applications
for reserved funds will automatically be
considered for unreserved funds, if
eligible, according to rank order.
After the award selections are made,
all applicants will be notified of the
status of their applications by mail.
Grantees must meet all statutory and
regulatory program requirements in
order to receive their award. In the
event that a grantee cannot meet the
requirements, the award will be
withdrawn. Applicants for Working
Capital Grants must submit complete,
independent third-party Feasibility
Studies and Business Plans before the
grant award can be finalized. All
Projects will be evaluated by the
servicing State Office prior to finalizing
the award to ensure that funded Projects
are likely to be feasible in the proposed
project area. Regardless of scoring, a
Project determined to be unlikely to be
feasible by the servicing State Office
with concurrence by the National Office
will not be funded.
C. Anticipated Announcement and
Award Dates
Award Date: The announcement of
award selections is expected to occur on
or about January 7, 2010.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a
notification of tentative selection for
funding from Rural Development.
Applicants must comply with all
applicable statutes, regulations, and this
notice before the grant award will
receive final approval.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive
notification, including dispute
resolution alternatives, by mail.
B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
7 CFR parts 1901 subpart E, 3015,
3019, and 4284 are applicable and may
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17:18 Aug 31, 2009
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be accessed at https://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-tablesearch.html#page1.
The following additional
requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
Grant Agreement.
Form RD 1942–46.
Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for Obligation of
Funds.’’
Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of Intent to Meet
Conditions.’’
Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, and Other
Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered
Transactions.’’
Form AD–1048, ‘‘Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion—Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.’’
Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification Regarding a
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
(Grants).’’
Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance Agreement.’’
Additional information on these
requirements can be found at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
vadg.htm.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees
must provide Rural Development with a
paper or electronic copy that includes
all required signatures of the following
reports. The reports must be submitted
to the Agency contact listed on the
Grant Agreement and Letter of
Conditions. Failure to submit
satisfactory reports on time may result
in suspension or termination of the
grant.
1. Form SF–269 or SF–269A. A
‘‘Financial Status Report,’’ listing
expenditures according to agreed upon
budget categories, on a semi-annual
basis. Reporting periods end each March
31 and September 30, regardless of
when the grant period begins. Reports
are due 30 days after the reporting
period ends.
2. Semi-annual written performance
reports that compare accomplishments
to the objectives stated in the Grant
Agreement, identify all tasks completed
to date, and provide documentation
supporting the reported results. The
report should discuss any problems or
delays that may affect completion of the
project, as well as objectives for the next
reporting period. Compliance with any
special condition on the use of award
funds should also be discussed. Reports
are due as provided in paragraph 1. of
this section. Supporting documentation
for completed tasks includes, but is not
limited to, Feasibility Studies,
marketing plans, Business Plans, articles
of incorporation and bylaws and an
accounting of how working capital
funds were spent.
3. A Final Project written performance
report that compares accomplishments
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to the objectives stated in the proposal
is due within 90 days of the completion
of the project. This report should
identify all tasks completed and provide
documentation supporting the reported
results, as well as any problems or
delays that affected completion of the
project. Compliance with any special
condition on the use of award funds
should also be discussed. Supporting
documentation for completed tasks
includes, but is not limited to,
Feasibility Studies, marketing plans,
Business Plans, articles of incorporation
and bylaws and an accounting of how
working capital funds were spent.
Planning Grant Projects must also report
the estimated increase in revenue,
increase in customer base, number of
jobs created, and any other relevant
economic indicators generated by
continuing the project into its
operational phase. Working Capital
Grants must report the increase in
revenue, increase in customer base,
number of jobs created, any other
relevant economic indicators generated
by the project during the grant period in
addition to total funds used for the
Venture during the grant period. Total
funds must include other Federal, State,
local, and other funds used for the
venture. Projects with significant energy
components must also report expected
or actual capacity (e.g. gallons of
ethanol produced annually, megawatt
hours produced annually) and any
emissions reductions incurred during
the project.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this
announcement and for program
technical assistance, applicants should
contact their USDA Rural Development
State Office at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
The State Office can also be reached by
calling 800–670–6553 and pressing ‘‘1.’’
If an applicant is unable to contact their
State Office, a nearby State Office may
be contacted or the RBS National Office
can be reached at Mail STOP 3250,
Room 4016–South, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–
3250, Telephone: (202) 720–8460, email: cpgrants@wdc.usda.gov.
Applicants are also encouraged to visit
the application Web site for application
tools including an application guide and
templates. The Web address is: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/
vadg.htm.
VIII. Non-Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
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disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–
2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–9410, or call
(866) 632–9992 (voice) or (202) 401–
0216 (TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
Dated: August 25, 2009.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service.
[FR Doc. E9–21030 Filed 8–31–09; 8:45 am]
damaged the bulk train car loading area
and parts of the sugar refinery.
Following the staff presentation and
the conclusion of the public comment
period, the Board will consider whether
to approve the final report and
recommendations. All staff
presentations are preliminary and are
intended solely to allow the Board to
consider in a public forum the issues
and factors involved in this case. No
factual analyses, conclusions or findings
presented by staff should be considered
final. Only after the Board has
considered the final staff presentation,
listened to the witnesses and the public
comments and approved the staff report
will there be an approved final record
of this incident.
The meeting will be open to the
public. Please notify CSB if a translator
or interpreter is needed, at least 5
business days prior to the public
meeting. For more information, please
contact the Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board at (202)–261–7600,
or visit our Web site at: www.csb.gov.
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E9–21127 Filed 8–28–09; 11:15 am]
CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD
INVESTIGATION BOARD
BILLING CODE 6350–01–P
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Sunshine Act Meeting—September 24,
2009—6:30 pm
In connection with its investigation
into the cause of a February 7, 2008, an
explosion and fire at the Imperial Sugar
refinery northwest of Savannah,
Georgia, the Chemical Safety and
Hazard Investigation Board announces
that it will convene a public meeting on
September 24, 2009, starting at 6:30 pm
at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto—15 East
Liberty Street, Savannah, Georgia.
At the meeting CSB staff will present
to the Board the results of their
investigation into this incident. Key
issues involved in the investigation
concern combustible dust hazard
recognition, minimizing combustible
dust accumulation in the workplace,
and equipment design and maintenance.
This will be followed by a public
comment period prior to a Board vote
on the report.
Incident: On February 7, 2008, at
about 7:15 p.m., a series of sugar dust
explosions at the Imperial Sugar
manufacturing facility in Port
Wentworth, Georgia, resulted in 14
worker fatalities and 36 injuries. Eight
workers died at the scene and six
eventually succumbed to their injuries
at the Augusta Burn Center. The
explosions and subsequent fires
destroyed the sugar packing buildings,
palletizer room, and silos, and severely
VerDate Nov<24>2008
22:05 Aug 31, 2009
Jkt 217001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
(A–570–827)
Certain Cased Pencils from the
People’s Republic of China: Amended
Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 13, 2009, the
Department of Commerce (‘‘the
Department’’) published the final results
of the administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on certain
cased pencils from the People’s
Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’), covering the
period December 1, 2006, through
November 30, 2007. See Certain Cased
Pencils from the People’s Republic of
China: Final Results and Partial
Rescission of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR 33406
(July 13, 2009) (‘‘Final Results’’). We are
amending the Final Results to correct
ministerial errors in the calculation of
the weighted–average margin and the
assessment rate applicable to entries by
certain respondents to this proceeding,
China First Pencil Co., Ltd. (‘‘China
First’’), Shanghai Three Star Stationery
Industry Co., Ltd. (‘‘Three Star’’), and
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
45177
Orient International Holding Shanghai
Foreign Trade Corporation (‘‘SFTC’’)
(collectively, ‘‘Respondents’’), pursuant
to section 751(h) of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended (‘‘the Act’’), and 19
CFR 351.224(e). We released the final
amended results to the parties on
Wednesday, August 19, 2009. However,
that version inadvertently included an
incorrect weighted average margin for
SFTC, so this amended final results
correct that error. The error was
discovered prior to publication in the
Federal Register; consequently, this
amended notice is being published in its
place.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Layton or Alexander Montoro, at
(202) 482–0371 or (202) 482–0238,
respectively; AD/CD Operations, Office
1, Import Administration, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 20, 2009, China First, Three
Star and SFTC submitted timely
allegations of ministerial errors
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(c)(1). First,
Respondents alleged that the
Department did not use the correct
conversion percentage for slats. Second,
Respondents alleged that the
Department did not calculate the
surrogate value for slats correctly. Third,
Respondents alleged that the
Department valued both lacquer and the
inputs to make lacquer. Fourth,
Respondents alleged that the
Department should not have inflated the
surrogate value for plastic toppers.
Finally, Respondents alleged that the
Department should adjust the separate
rate assigned to SFTC after correcting
for the above–described allegations of
ministerial errors. See Memorandum
from David Layton, Alexander Montoro,
and Joseph Shuler, International Trade
Compliance Analysts, to Susan
Kuhbach, Director of AD/CD
Operations, Office 1, ‘‘Ministerial Error
Allegations’’ (August 18, 2009)
(‘‘Ministerial Error Allegations Memo’’).
On July 28, 2009, the petitioners to
this proceeding, Sanford L.P., Musgrave
Pencil Company, RoseMoon Inc., and
General Pencil Company (collectively,
‘‘Petitioners’’), submitted a reply to
China First’s, Three Star’s and SFTC’s
ministerial error allegations. Petitioners
argued that the Department must take
into account China First’s full lumber–
to-slat yield loss ratio when calculating
China First’s slat surrogate value. In
E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM
01SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45165-45177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21030]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Announcement of Value-Added Producer Grant Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) and
republication of Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) Announcement of
Value-Added Producer Grant Application Deadlines.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Rural Development (RD) previously withdrew the May 6, 2009
Federal Register notice (74 FR 20900), which was published in error,
announcing the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive
grants for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help independent agricultural
producers enter into value-added activities. This notice announces the
availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grants for
fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter
into or expand value-added activities, with the following
clarifications and alterations: (1) Highlights the inclusion of
Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as
operators of Small and Medium-sized farms or ranches that are
structured as a Family Farm, and provides more weight in the scoring
process, (2) deletes contradictory language related to the eligibility
of applicants under the newly allowable mid-tier value chain provision
by clarifying that the applicant entity must be eligible under the
legislatively-stated categories (but the network they are part of can
include virtually any type of organization), (3) establishes the upper
limit of ``medium-sized farm'' at between $250,001 and $700,000 in
annual gross sales of agricultural product, (4) revises the list of
renewable energy technologies that are eligible for funding, (5)
clarifies that different documentation standards apply for Planning
Grants versus Working Capital Grants, (6) deletes ``Innovation'' as a
specific scoring criteria, (7) allows branding, packaging and other
means of product differentiation as a component of a value added
strategy in all product eligibility categories, and (8) provides a 90-
day application period.
USDA Rural Development welcomes projects that highlight innovative
uses of agricultural products. This may include using existing
agricultural products in non-traditional ways and/or merging
agricultural products with technology in creative ways. As with all
value-added efforts, generating new products, creating expanded
marketing opportunities and increasing producer income are the end
goal. Applications proposing to develop innovative, sustainable
products, businesses, or marketing opportunities that accelerate
creation of new economic opportunities and commercialization in the
agri-food, agri-science, or agriculture products integrated or merged
with other sciences or technologies are invited. This may include
alternative uses of agricultural products as well as, value-added
processing of agricultural commodities to produce bio-materials (e.g.
plastics, fiberboard), green chemicals, functional foods (e.g. lutin
enhanced ``power bar'' snacks, soy enhanced products), nutraceuticals,
on-farm renewable energy, and biofuels (e.g. ethanol, bio-diesel).
Awards may be made for planning activities or for working capital
expenses, but not for both. The
[[Page 45166]]
maximum grant amount for a planning grant is $100,000 and the maximum
grant amount for a working capital grant is $300,000.
Ten percent of available funds are reserved to fund applications
submitted by Beginning Farmers or Ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged
Farmers or Ranchers, with working definitions derived from 7 U.S.C.
1991(a) and 2003(e) and provided in section I of this notice. An
additional ten percent of available funds are reserved to fund Mid-Tier
Value Chain projects, as defined in section I of this notice (both
collectively referred to as ``reserved funds'').
DATES: Applications for grants must be submitted on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper applications for both reserved and unreserved funds must be
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than
November 30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
Electronic applications for both reserved and unreserved funds must
be received by November 30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Paper applications must be submitted to the Rural
Development State Office for the State in which the Project will
primarily take place. Addresses may be found at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
Electronic applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov
Web site at: https://www.grants.gov, following the instructions therein.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For assistance, applicants should
visit the program Web site at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. In addition, applicants should contact their USDA Rural
Development State Office by calling 800-670-6553 and pressing ``1,'' or
by selecting the Contact Information link at the above Web site.
Applicants are encouraged to contact their State Offices well in
advance of the deadline to discuss their projects and ask any questions
about the application process. Applicants may submit drafts of their
applications to their State Offices for a preliminary review anytime
prior to October 1, 2009. The preliminary review will only assess the
eligibility of the application and its completeness. The results of the
preliminary review are not binding on the Agency.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: USDA Rural Business Cooperative Services.
Funding Opportunity Title: Value-Added Producer Grants.
Announcement Type: Reissued announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.352.
Dates: Applications for grants must be submitted on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper applications for both reserved and unreserved funds must be
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than
November 30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding. Late
applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
Electronic applications for both reserved and unreserved funds must
be received by November 30, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
This solicitation is issued pursuant to section 231 of the
Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-224) as amended by
section 6202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L.
110-246) (see 7 U.S.C. 1621 note)) authorizing the establishment of the
Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development grants, also known
as Value-Added Producer Grants. The Secretary of Agriculture has
delegated the program's administration to USDA Rural Development
Cooperative Programs.
The primary objective of this grant program is to help Independent
Producers of Agricultural Commodities, Agriculture Producer Groups,
Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Ventures develop strategies to create marketing opportunities
and to help develop Business Plans for viable marketing opportunities
regarding production of bio-based products from agricultural
commodities. Cooperative Programs will competitively award funds for
Planning Grants and Working Capital Grants. In order to provide program
benefits to as many eligible applicants as possible, applicants must
apply only for a Planning Grant or for a Working Capital Grant, but not
both. Grants will only be awarded if Projects are determined to be
economically viable and sustainable.
USDA Rural Development is encouraging applications from Beginning
Farmers or Ranchers, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers or Ranchers, and
operators of Small or Medium-Sized Farms and Ranches that are
structured as a Family Farm, as defined in this notice. Priority points
will be assigned to eligible applicants in those categories. As with
all value-added efforts, generating new products, creating expanded
marketing opportunities and increasing producer income are the end
goal. Please note that businesses of all sizes may apply. In FY 2008,
31 percent of awards were $50,000 or less.
Definitions
The definitions at 7 CFR 4284.3 and 4284.904 are incorporated by
reference, with the exception of the definition of Value-Added, which
is superseded by the definition of Value-Added Agricultural Product as
published in the 2008 Farm Bill and is included below. In addition, the
Agency uses the following terms in this NOSA: Agricultural Commodity,
Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Business Plan, Conflict of Interest,
Family Farm, Feasibility Study, Local and Regional Supply Network,
Locally Produced Agricultural Food Product, Marketing Plan, Medium-
Sized Farm, Mid-Tier Value Chain, Pro Forma Financial Statements,
Project, Small Farm, Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher, and
Venture. It is the Agency's position that those terms are defined as
follows.
Agricultural Commodity--An unprocessed product of farms, ranches,
nurseries, and forests. Agricultural Commodities include: Livestock,
poultry, and fish; fruits and vegetables; grains, such as wheat,
barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice, corn, and sorghum; legumes, such as
field beans and peas; animal feed and forage crops; seed crops; fiber
crops, such as cotton; oil crops, such as safflower, sunflower, corn,
and cottonseed; trees grown for lumber and wood products; nursery stock
grown commercially; Christmas trees; ornamentals and cut flowers; and
turf grown commercially for sod. Agricultural Commodities do not
include horses or animals raised as pets, such as cats, dogs, and
ferrets.
Beginning Farmer or Rancher--An entity in which: (1) All owners
have operated a farm or a ranch for not more than 10 years; and (2) all
owners materially and substantially participate in the operation of a
farm or a ranch; and (3) all owners provide substantial day-to-day
labor and management of a farm or a ranch. For VAPG, a Beginning Farmer
or Rancher must currently be producing the agricultural commodity to
which value will be added.
Business Plan--A formal statement of a set of business goals, the
reasons why they are believed attainable, and the
[[Page 45167]]
plan for reaching those goals, including three years of pro forma
financial statements. It may also contain background information about
the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.
Conflict of Interest--A situation in which a person or entity has
competing professional or personal interests that make it difficult for
the person or business to act impartially. An example of a Conflict of
Interest is a grant recipient or an employee of a recipient that
conducts or significantly participates in conducting a Feasibility
Study for the recipient.
Family Farm--See 7 CFR 761.2.
Feasibility Study--An independent, third party analysis that shows
how the Venture would operate under a set of assumptions--the
technology used (the facilities, equipment, production process, etc.),
the qualifications of the management team, and the financial aspects
(capital needs, volume, cost of goods, wages, etc.). The analysis
should answer the following questions about the Venture.
(1) Where is it now?
(2) Where do the owners of the Venture want to go?
(3) Why do the owners of the Venture want to go forward with the
Venture?
(4) How will the owners of the Venture accomplish the Venture?
(5) What resources are needed?
(6) Who will provide assistance?
(7) When will the Venture be completed?
(8) How much will the Venture cost?
(9) What are the risks?
Local and Regional Supply Network--An interconnected group of food-
related entities through which food products move from production
through consumption in a local or regional area of the U.S. Examples of
food-related entities include, but are not limited to, Agricultural
Producers, processors, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, consumers,
and any other related organizations, including entities that organize
or provide technical assistance for such networks or help to establish
new or emerging networks. Locally Produced Agricultural Food Product--
Any agricultural food product that is raised, produced, and distributed
in--
(1) The locality or region in which the final product is marketed,
so that the total distance that the product is transported is less than
400 miles from the origin of the product; or
(2) The State in which the product is produced.
Marketing Plan--A plan for the Venture conducted by a qualified
consultant that identifies a market window, potential buyers, a
description of the distribution system and possible promotional
campaigns.
Medium-Sized Farm--A farm or ranch that has averaged between
$250,001 and $700,000 in annual gross sales of agricultural products in
the previous three years.
Mid-Tier Value Chain--Local and regional supply networks that link
independent producers with businesses and cooperatives that market
Value-Added Agricultural Products in a manner that--
(1) Targets and strengthens the profitability and competitiveness
of small and medium-sized farms and ranches that are structured as a
family farm; and
(2) Obtains agreement from an eligible Agricultural Producer Group,
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Venture that is engaged in the value chain on a marketing
strategy.
(3) For Mid-Tier Value Chain projects the Agency recognizes that,
in a supply chain network, a variety of raw agricultural commodity and
value-added product ownership and transfer arrangements may be
necessary. Consequently, applicant ownership of the raw agricultural
commodity and value-added product from raw through value-added is not
necessarily required, as long as the mid-tier value chain proposal can
demonstrate an increase in customer base and an increase in revenue
returns to the applicant producers supplying the majority of the raw
agricultural commodity for the project.
Pro Forma Financial Statements--Financial statements that identify
the future financial position of a company. They are part of the
Business Plan and include an explanation of all assumptions, such as
input prices, finished product prices, and other economic factors used
to generate the financial statements. They must include projections in
the form of cash flow statements, income statements, and balance
sheets. Income statements and cash flow statements must be monthly for
the first year, then annual for future years. The balance sheet should
be annual for all years.
Project--Includes all proposed activities to be funded by the VAPG
and Matching Funds.
Small Farm--A farm or ranch that has averaged $250,000 or less in
annual gross sales of agricultural products in the previous three
years.
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher--A farmer or rancher who
is a member of a ``socially disadvantaged group.'' In this definition,
the term farmer or rancher means a person that is directly engaged in
farming or ranching or an entity solely owned by individuals who are
directly engaged in farming or ranching. A socially disadvantaged group
means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or
gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group
without regard to their individual qualities. In the event that there
are multiple farmer or rancher owners of the applicant organization,
the Agency requires that at least 51 percent of the owners are members
of a socially disadvantaged group.
Value-Added Agricultural Product--Any agricultural commodity or
product that--
(1)(i) Has undergone a change in physical state;
(ii) Was produced in a manner that enhances the value of the
agricultural commodity or product, as demonstrated through a Business
Plan that shows the enhanced value, as determined by the Secretary;
(iii) Is physically segregated in a manner that results in the
enhancement of the value of the Agricultural Commodity or product;
(iv) Is a source of farm- or ranch-based renewable energy,
including E-85 fuel; or
(v) Is aggregated and marketed as a locally-produced agricultural
food product; and
(2) As a result of the change in physical state or the manner in
which the Agricultural Commodity or product was produced, marketed, or
segregated--
(i) The customer base for the agricultural commodity or product is
expanded; and
(ii) A greater portion of the revenue derived from the marketing,
processing, or physical segregation of the agricultural commodity or
product is available to the producer of the commodity or product.
Venture--Includes the Project and any other activities related to
the production, processing, and marketing of the Value-Added product
that is the subject of the VAPG grant request. Please note that not all
Venture-related expenses will be eligible for this program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2009.
Approximate Total Funding: $18 million.
Approximate Number of Awards: 80.
Approximate Average Award: $140,000.
Floor of Award Range: None.
[[Page 45168]]
Ceiling of Award Range: $100,000 for Planning Grants and $300,000
for Working Capital Grants.
Anticipated Award Date: January 7, 2010.
Budget Period Length: Not to exceed 3 years.
Project Period Length: Not to exceed 3 years.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be an Independent Producer, Agriculture Producer
Group, Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority-Controlled Producer-
Based Business Venture as defined in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart A. An
applicant applying as an Independent Producer must be 100 percent owned
by Independent Producers. The owner(s) must currently own and produce
more than 50 percent of the Agricultural Commodity that will be used
for the Value-Added Agricultural Product, and that product must be
owned by the Independent Producer owners from its raw commodity state
through the marketing of the final product. Examples of Independent
Producers are steering committees, sole proprietorships, LLCs, LLPs,
other for-profit corporations, and non-profit corporations.
An applicant applying as an Agriculture Producer Group must have a
mission that includes working on behalf of Independent Producers. The
majority of its membership and board of directors must meet the
definition of an Independent Producer. The applicant must identify the
Independent Producers on whose behalf the proposed Project will be
completed. Note that this type of applicant may not apply on behalf of
its entire membership. The Independent Producers on whose behalf the
proposed Project will be completed must currently own and produce more
than 50 percent of the Agricultural Commodity that will be used for the
Value-Added Agricultural Product, and that product must be owned by the
Independent Producer owners from its raw commodity state through the
marketing of the final product. Examples of Agricultural Producer
Groups are trade or commodity associations.
An applicant applying as a Farmer or Rancher Cooperative must
demonstrate that it is a farmer or rancher-owned and controlled
business from which benefits are derived and distributed equitably on
the basis of use by each of the farmer or rancher owners. The
cooperative must be in good standing and incorporated as a cooperative
in its state of incorporation. The owners must currently own and
produce more than 50 percent of the Agricultural Commodity that will be
used for the Value-Added Agricultural Product, and that product must be
owned by the Independent Producer owners from its raw state through the
marketing of the final product.
Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives that are 100 percent owned by
farmers and ranchers must apply as Farmer or Rancher Cooperatives. It
is the Agency's position that if a cooperative is 100 percent owned and
controlled by agricultural harvesters (e.g., fishermen, loggers), it is
eligible only as an Independent Producer and not as a Farmer or Rancher
Cooperative. If a cooperative is not 100 percent owned and controlled
by farmers and ranchers or 100 percent owned and controlled by
agricultural harvesters, it may still be eligible to apply as a
Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture, provided it meets
the definition in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart A.
An applicant applying as a Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Venture must have more than 50 percent of its ownership and
control held by Independent Producers; or partnerships, LLCs, LLPs,
corporations, or cooperatives that are themselves 100 percent owned and
controlled by Independent Producers. The Independent Producer owners
must currently own and produce more than 50 percent of the Agricultural
Commodity that will be used for the Value-Added Agricultural Product,
and that product must be owned by the Independent Producer owners from
its raw commodity state through the marketing of the final product.
Examples of Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Business Ventures are
LLCs, LLPs, and other for-profit corporations. No more than 10 percent
of program funds can go to applicants that are Majority-Controlled
Producer-Based Business Ventures.
Applicants other than Independent Producers must limit their
Projects to Emerging Markets. All applicants must demonstrate an
increase in customer base and an increase in revenue returns to the
producers.
If the applicant is an unincorporated group (steering committee),
it must form a legal entity before the Grant Agreement can be approved
by the Agency. A steering committee may only apply as an Independent
Producer. Therefore, the steering committee must be 100 percent
composed of Independent Producers and the business to be formed must
meet the definition of Independent Producer, as defined in 7 CFR 4284,
subpart A.
Entities that contract out the production of an Agricultural
Commodity are not considered Independent Producers.
Any businesses that are selected for awards must provide
documentation that they are in good standing with the state of
incorporation.
In addition to the above requirements, applicants may direct that
their applications be considered for reserved funds if they provide
documentation and discussion to demonstrate that they meet the
definition of a Beginning Farmer or Rancher, or a Socially
Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher as defined in Section I of this notice.
In addition to the above requirements, applications may be
considered for reserved funds if the applicant provides discussion and
documentation to demonstrate that the proposed project meets the
definition of a Mid-Tier Value Chain as defined in Section I of this
notice. Applicants must be an eligible Independent Producer, Farmer or
Rancher Cooperative, Agricultural Producer Group, or Majority
Controlled Producer-Based Business Venture and must demonstrate that
they propose to develop an interconnected food-related supply network
of business enterprises through which food products move from
production through consumption in a local and/or regional area in the
United States. This supply network must link independent producers with
businesses and cooperatives that market Value-Added Agricultural
Products in a manner that targets and strengthens the profitability and
competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Farms and Ranches that are
structured as a Family Farm. The eligible Agricultural Producer Group,
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority-Controlled Producer-Based
Business Venture applicant must obtain at least one agreement from
another member of the network engaged in the value chain on a marketing
strategy. The eligible Independent Producer applicant must obtain at
least one agreement from an eligible Agricultural Producer Group,
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or Majority-Controlled Producer Based
Business Venture engaged in the value-chain on a marketing strategy.
For Planning Grants, examples of agreements include, but are not
limited to, letters of intent to partner on marketing, distribution, or
processing. For Working Capital Grants, examples of agreements include,
but are not limited to, marketing agreements, distribution agreements,
and processing agreements.
For Mid-Tier Value Chain projects, the applicant must currently own
and
[[Page 45169]]
produce more than 50% of the raw commodity that will be used for the
value-added product that is the subject of the proposal. Because the
Agency recognizes that, in a supply chain network, a variety of raw
agricultural commodity and value-added product ownership and transfer
arrangements may be necessary, applicant ownership of the raw
agricultural commodity and value-added product from raw through value-
added is not necessarily required, as long as the proposal can
demonstrate an increase in customer base and an increase in revenue
returns to the applicant producers supplying the majority of the raw
agricultural commodity for the project.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching Funds are required, must be at least equal to the amount
of grant funds requested, and are subject to the same use restrictions
as grant funds. Applicants must verify in their applications that
eligible Matching Funds are available for the time period of the grant.
Unless provided by other authorizing legislation, other Federal grant
funds cannot be used as Matching Funds. Matching Funds must be spent at
a rate equal to or greater than the rate at which grant funds are
expended. If Matching Funds are provided in an amount exceeding the
minimum requirement the applicant must spend their Matching Funds
contribution at a proportional rate. For example, if an applicant
proposes to provide 75 percent of the total Project cost in Matching
Funds and a grant is awarded, the Agency expects that the grantee will
expend at least $0.75 of Matching Funds for every $0.25 of grant funds
expended.
Matching Funds must be provided by either the applicant or by a
third party in the form of cash or eligible in-kind contributions.
Applicants that are awarded grants may not change the source, type, or
amount of Matching Funds proposed in their applications without prior
written approval from the Agency. Matching Funds must be spent on
eligible expenses and must be from eligible sources.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Product Eligibility: The project proposed must involve a Value-
Added product as defined in Section I of this notice. There are five
methods through which value-added can be demonstrated. Regardless of
which method is used, an expansion of customer base and an increase in
revenue to the agricultural producers must also be demonstrated.
1. A change in physical state occurs when an Agricultural Commodity
cannot be returned to its original state. Examples of value-added
products in this category are fish fillets, diced tomatoes, ethanol,
bio-diesel, and wool rugs. Common production or harvesting methods are
not considered a change in physical state. For example, dehydrated
corn, bottled milk, raw fiber, Christmas trees, and cut flowers are not
eligible in this category.
2. Production in a manner that enhances the value of the
Agricultural Commodity occurs when a nonstandard production method adds
value per unit of production over a standard production method. It is
the Agency's position that only Working Capital applications are
eligible for this category because the enhanced value must be
demonstrated using information from a Feasibility Study and Business
Plan developed for the Venture. Examples are organic carrots, eggs
produced from free-range chickens, and beef produced from cattle fed a
``natural'' diet.
3. Physical segregation that enhances the value of the Agricultural
Commodity occurs when a physical barrier (i.e. distance or a structure)
separates a commodity from other varieties of the same commodity on the
same farm during production and that the separation continues through
the harvesting, processing, and marketing of the product or commodity.
An example is genetically-modified corn and non-genetically modified
corn produced on the same farm, but physically separated so that no
cross-pollination occurs.
4. A source of farm- or ranch-based renewable energy is an
Agricultural Commodity or Product used to generate energy on a farm or
ranch. Technologies that convert agricultural commodities and products
into energy (e.g. biomass, such as anerobic digesters, algae, etc.) are
eligible in this category. On-farm generation of energy through wind,
solar, geothermaland hydroelectric are eligible ONLY when they are used
in the production of a value-added product. Wind, solar, geothermal and
hydroelectric are not eligible if they are simply converted to
electricity and sold off the farm. Fuels that are not generated on a
farm or ranch owned or leased by the owners of the Venture are not
eligible under this category, but may be considered under the first
category.
5. Aggregation and marketing of locally-produced agricultural food
products occurs when any food product made from an Agricultural
Commodity is raised, produced, and marketed within 400 miles of the
farm that produced the commodity or within the same State as that farm.
Applications should demonstrate and quantify how local sales and
marketing of an agricultural commodity or product will result in added
value to the product. Examples include local grapes with specific
characteristics attributable to the growing area, sold to a processor
that will produce a select/vintage local wine, or local sweet corn
advertised and sold at a premium as a fresher, locally produced
alternative to non-local produce. Please note that organic produce or
other types of products that are produced in a manner that enhances
their value can apply for grants under this category as long as 100
percent of the marketing of the product will occur within 400 miles of
the farm that produced the Agricultural Commodity.
Note: Applications that propose only branding, packaging, or
other similar means of product differentiation are not eligible in
any category. However, applications may propose branding, packaging,
or other product differentiation activities as a component of a
value-added strategy for products otherwise eligible in one of the
above categories. Eligible activities must be directly related to
the processing and marketing of the value-added agricultural
commodity or product, and cannot include evaluation or analysis of
related agricultural production activities for the agricultural
commodity.
Purpose Eligibility: The application must specify whether grant
funds are requested for planning or for working capital activities.
Applicants may not request funds for both types of activities in one
application. Working capital expenses are not considered eligible for
Planning Grants and planning expenses are not considered eligible for
Working Capital Grants. Applications requesting more than the maximum
grant amount will be considered ineligible.
It is the Agency's position that applicants other than Independent
Producers applying for a Working Capital Grant must demonstrate that
the Venture has not been in operation more than two years at the time
of application in order to show that the applicant is entering an
Emerging Market. All applicants must demonstrate an increase in
customer base and an increase in revenue returns to producers from
their project.
Grant Period Eligibility: Applicants may propose a timeframe for
the grant project up to a maximum 36 months in length. Projects cannot
begin earlier than March 1, 2010 and cannot end later than February 28,
2013. Applications that request funds for a time period beginning prior
to March 1, 2010 and/or ending after February 28, 2013 will be
considered ineligible, as will applications that exceed a maximum 36
months in length. Applicants may propose a start date falling any time
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during March 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010. If the project period
will be longer than one year, the applicant must identify a separate,
unique task(s) for the first year and for any subsequent year of the
proposed project. The Agency will consider requests for an extension on
a case-by-case basis if extenuating circumstances prevent a grantee
from completing an award within the approved grant period, but no
extensions can be approved to extend the grant period beyond a total of
three years.
Multiple Grant Eligibility: An applicant can submit only one
application in response to this notice. The application must designate
whether the application submitted should be considered for the general
funds program or for one of the reserved funding options.
Applicants who have already received a Planning Grant for the
proposed Project cannot receive another Planning Grant for the same
Project. Applicants who have already received a Working Capital Grant
for a Project cannot receive any additional grants for that Project.
Current Grant Eligibility: If an applicant currently has a VAPG, it
must be completed prior to November 30, 2009.
Judgment Eligibility: In accordance with 7 CFR 4284.6.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address To Request Application Package
The application package for applying on paper for this funding
opportunity can be obtained at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. Alternatively, applicants may contact their USDA Rural
Development State Office. The State Office can be reached by calling
800-670-6553 and pressing ``1.'' For electronic applications,
applicants must visit https://www.grants.gov and follow the instructions
therein.
B. Content and Form of Submission
Applications must be submitted on paper or electronically. An
Application Guide may be viewed at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. It is strongly recommended that applicants use the
template provided on the Web site. The template can be filled out
electronically and printed out for submission with the required forms
for a paper submission or it can be filled out electronically and
submitted as an attachment through Grants.gov.
If an application is submitted on paper, one signed original and
one copy of the complete application must be submitted.
If the application is submitted electronically, the applicant must
follow the instructions given at https://www.grants.gov. Applicants are
strongly advised to visit the site well in advance of the application
deadline to insure that they have obtained the proper authentication
and have sufficient computer resources to complete the application.
The Agency will conduct an initial screening of all applications
for eligibility and to determine whether the application is complete
and sufficiently responsive to the requirements set forth in this
notice to allow for an informed review. Information submitted as part
of the application will be protected from disclosure to the extent
permitted by law.
Applicants must complete and submit the elements listed below,
except as noted in the next paragraph. Please note that the
requirements in the following locations within 7 CFR part 4284 have
been combined with other requirements to simplify the application and
reduce duplication: 7 CFR 4284.910(c)(5)(i), 4284.910(c)(5)(ii), and
4284.910(c)(5)(iv).
Applicants requesting less than $50,000 are not required to submit
the following items at the time of application. However, if selected
for an award, the applicants will be required to submit these items as
part of the conditions of the award: Form SF-424A (section IV, B.2),
Form SF-424B (section IV, B.3), Title Page (section IV, B.4), Goals of
the Project (section IV, B.8.i), and Performance Evaluation Criteria
(section IV, B.8.ii).
1. Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The form
must be completed, signed and submitted as part of the application
package. All applicants are also required to have an Employer
Identification Number (or a Social Security Number if the applicant is
an individual or steering committee) and a DUNS number (including
individuals and sole proprietorships). The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number which uniquely identifies business entities. To
obtain a DUNS number, access https://www.dnb.com/us, or call (866) 705-
5711.
2. Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.''
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application
package.
3. Form SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.'' This
form must be completed, signed, and submitted as part of the
application package.
4. Title Page (limited to one page). The title page must include
the title of the project and may include other relevant identifying
information.
5. Table of Contents. A detailed Table of Contents (TOC)
immediately following the title page is required.
6. Executive Summary (limited to one page). The Executive Summary
should briefly describe the Project, including goals, tasks to be
completed and other relevant information that provides a general
overview of the Project. The applicant must specify whether they intend
to compete in the General Funds or one of the Reserved Funds
competitions and clearly state whether the application is for a
Planning Grant or a Working Capital Grant and the grant amount
requested.
7. Eligibility Discussion (limited to six pages). The applicant
must provide the following information so that the Agency can assess
the eligibility of the applicant and the proposed Project. Answers of
zero or none may not disqualify an applicant, depending on what type of
applicant organization is applying.
i. Applicant Eligibility. Applicants must provide the following
information so that the Agency can determine the eligibility of the
applicant organization for assistance.
Describe the applicant in a brief statement (for example,
individual farm or membership organization, etc.) and identify its
legal structure (for example sole proprietorship, LLC, LLP,
cooperative, non-profit organization, or others described in detail).
Identify the owners or members who will be contributing
the Agricultural Commodity to which value will be added to the Project.
Applicants must provide the names of the individuals who are owners or
members, as well as the percentage of their ownership in the
organization. If the applicant organization is owned by entities other
than individuals, it must identify those entities and provide a list of
the individuals who own each entity. If the list is longer than a few
lines, it should be attached as an appendix to the application and will
not be counted toward the page limit of this section.
A statement that certifies that these owners or members
are actively and currently engaged in the production of the
Agricultural Commodity.
Describe how the applicant organization is governed or
managed, including a description of whom and how many owners/members
have voting rights, if applicable.
[[Page 45171]]
The number of individuals on the governing board (e.g.
board of directors).
The number of individuals on the governing board who have
voting rights and are currently engaged in the production of the
Agricultural Commodity to which value will be added and will be
providing that commodity to the Project.
If the applicant organization is a membership
organization, include the organization's mission statement, which must
be copied from the organization's articles of incorporation, bylaws, or
other governing documents.
The amount of the Agricultural Commodity needed for the
Project. Planning applications must provide an estimate.
The amount of the Agricultural Commodity that will be
provided by the owners or members of the applicant organization.
Planning applications must provide an estimate.
The amount of the Agricultural Commodity that will be
purchased or donated from third-party sources.
How the owners or members providing the Agricultural
Commodity to the Project will maintain ownership of the commodity from
its raw state to marketing the Value-Added Agricultural Product.
ii. Product Eligibility. Applicants must provide the following
information so that the Agency can determine the eligibility of the
Value-Added Agricultural Product to be marketed.
The Agricultural Commodity to which value will be added.
Describe the method or process through which value will be
added. This must include at least one of the following: A change in
physical state, a non-standard production method that enhances the
commodity's value, physical segregation, on-farm or on-ranch generation
of renewable energy, and/or a locally-produced agricultural food
product.
The dollar amount of value added per production unit to
the Agricultural Commodity that is attributed to the value-added
process. Applicants for planning grants must estimate this amount while
applicants for working capital grants must use the amount from their
Feasibility Study and Business Plan results.
The Value-Added Agricultural Product that will be
produced.
Describe the expansion of customer base for the Value-
Added Agricultural Product. Those applying for a planning grant must
provide an estimate for the expansion of customer base. Those applying
for a working capital grant must supply the relevant information from
the Feasibility Study and Business Plan that was completed for the
Venture. If no expansion of customer base exists or is likely to exist,
the application is not eligible for funding.
The amount of the increased portion of revenue derived
from marketing the Value-Added Agricultural Product that will be
available to the producers of the Agricultural Commodity to which value
is added. Applicants for a planning grant must provide an estimate for
the increase in revenue. Those applying for a working capital grant
must supply the relevant information from the Feasibility Study and
Business Plan that was completed for the Venture. If no increase in
revenue exists or is likely to exist, the application is not eligible
for funding.
iii. Purpose Eligibility. Applicants should specify whether grant
funds will be used for eligible planning activities or working capital
activities directly related to the processing and/or marketing of the
value-added product. Applicants should specify the grant amount
requested. The Agency will also evaluate the budget and work plan
submitted in response to the Proposal Evaluation Criteria to determine
eligibility. In addition, applicants for working capital activities
should provide the following information that will be evaluated when
determining Purpose Eligibility.
A statement that an independent, third-party Feasibility
Study has been conducted for the proposed Venture. The applicant must
provide the name of the party who conducted the Feasibility Study and
the date it was completed. The Feasibility Study should not be
submitted with the application, but the Agency may request it at any
time in order to facilitate its eligibility review.
A statement that a Business Plan has been developed for
the proposed Venture. The applicant must provide the name of the party
who developed the Business Plan and the date it was completed. The
Business Plan should not be submitted with the application, but the
Agency may request it at any time in order to facilitate its
eligibility review.
Describe how long the applicant organization has been
engaged in the Venture that is the subject of the application.
iv. Reserved Funds Eligibility (The information below will not
count towards proposal page limitation constraints.)
(a) In addition to the above information, if applying for Beginning
Farmer or Rancher or Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher reserved
funds, provide documentation demonstrating that the applicant
organization meets the definition of a Beginning Farmer or Rancher or a
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher.
(b) In addition to the above information, if applying for Mid-Tier
Value Chain reserved funds, applicants must:
(1) Demonstrate that the project proposes development of a Local or
Regional Supply Network of interconnected food-related business
enterprises through which food products move from production through
consumption in a local or regional area of the USA, including a
description of the network, its component members, and its purpose;
(2) Describe at least two alliances, linkages or partnerships
within the value chain that link independent producers with businesses
and cooperatives that market Value-Added Agricultural Products in a
manner that benefits Small- or Medium-Sized Farms that are structured
as a Family Farm, including the names of the parties and the nature of
their collaboration;
(3) Demonstrate how the project, due to the manner in which the VA
product is marketed, will increase the profitability and
competitiveness of at least two eligible Small- or Medium-Sized Farms
or Ranches that are structured as a Family Farm ;
(4) Document that the eligible Agriculture Producer Group (APG)/
Farmer or Rancher Cooperative (COOP)/Majority-Controlled Producer Based
Business Venture (MCPBBV) applicant organization has obtained at least
one agreement with another member of the supply network that is engaged
in the value chain on a marketing strategy; or that the eligible
Independent Producer applicant has obtained at least one agreement from
an eligible APG/COOP/MCPBBV engaged in the value-chain on a marketing
strategy;
(5) Demonstrate that the applicant currently owns and produces more
than 50% of the raw agricultural commodity that will be used for the
value-added product that is the subject of the proposal; and
(6) Demonstrate that the project will result in an increase in
customer base and an increase in revenue returns to the applicant
producers supplying the majority of the raw agricultural commodity for
the project.
8. Proposal Narrative (limited to 15 pages).
i. Goals of the Project. The application must include a clear
statement of the ultimate goals of the Project, including an
explanation of how a market will be expanded and the degree to which
[[Page 45172]]
incremental revenue will accrue to the benefit of the Agricultural
Producer(s).
ii. Performance Evaluation Criteria. Applicants applying for
Planning Grants must suggest at least one criterion by which their
performance under a grant could be evaluated. Applicants applying for
Working Capital Grants must identify the projected increase in customer
base, revenue accruing to Independent Producers, and number of jobs
attributed to the Project. Working capital projects with significant
energy components must also identify the projected increase in capacity
(e.g. gallons of ethanol produced annually, megawatt hours produced
annually) attributed to the Project. Please note that these criteria
are different from the Proposal Evaluation Criteria and are a separate
requirement.
iii. Proposal Evaluation Criteria. Each of the proposal evaluation
criteria referenced in Section V.A. of this funding announcement must
be addressed, specifically and individually, in narrative form.
Applications that do not address the appropriate criteria (Planning
Grant applications must address Planning Grant evaluation criteria and
Working Capital Grant applications must address Working Capital Grant
evaluation criteria) will be considered ineligible.
9. Certification of Matching Funds. Applicants must certify that
Matching Funds will be available at the same time grant funds are
anticipated to be spent and that Matching Funds will be spent in
advance of grant funding, such that for every dollar of grant funds
advanced, not less than an equal amount of Matching Funds will have
been expended prior to submitting the request for reimbursement. This
certification is a separate requirement from the verification of
Matching Funds requirement. To fulfill this requirement, applicants
must include a statement for this section that reads as follows:
``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] certifies that matching funds will be
available at the same time grant funds are anticipated to be spent and
that matching funds will be spent in advance of grant funding, such
that for every dollar of grant funds advanced, not less than an equal
amount of matching funds will have been expended prior to submitting
the request for reimbursement.'' A separate signature is not required.
10. Verification of Matching Funds. Applicants must provide
documentation of all proposed Matching Funds, both cash and in-kind.
The documentation below must be included in the Appendix. Template
letters for each type of matching funds are available at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/verifymatch031407.htm.
i. Matching funds provided by the applicant in cash. A copy of a
bank statement with an ending date within one month of the application
submission and showing an ending balance equal to or greater than the
amount of cash Matching Funds proposed is required.
ii. Matching funds provided through a loan or line of credit. The
applicant must include a signed letter from the lending institution
verifying the amount available, the purposes for which funds may be
used, and the time period of availability of the funds. Specific dates
(month/day/year) corresponding to the proposed grant period or to dates
within the grant period when matching funds will be made available,
must be included.
iii. Matching funds provided by the applicant through an in-kind
contribution. The application must include a signed letter from the
applicant verifying the goods or services to be donated, the value of
the goods or services, and when the goods and services will be donated.
Specific dates (month/day/year) corresponding to the proposed grant
period or to dates within the grant period when matching contributions
will be made available, must be included. Note that applicant in-kind
match for planning grants should not include values for applicant time
spent on feasibility or business planning activities due to a possible
conflict of interest. Although applicants may participate with their
consultant in the feasibility and business planning activities, they
may not include their time as an in-kind match contribution to the
project. This represents a possible conflict of interest and should be
avoided in the application. Also note that if the applicant
organization is purchasing goods or services for the grant (e.g.
salaries, inventory), the contribution is considered a cash
contribution and must be verified as described in paragraph i. above.
Also, if an owner or employee of the applicant organization is donating
goods or services, the contribution is considered a third-party in-kind
contribution and must be verified as described in paragraph v. below.
iv. Matching funds provided by a third party in cash. The
application must include a signed letter from that third party
verifying how much cash will be donated and when it will be donated.
Specific dates (month/day/year) corresponding to the proposed grant
period or to dates within the grant period when matching funds will be
made available, must be included.
v. Matching Funds provided by a third party in-kind donation. The
application must include a signed letter from the third party verifying
the goods or services to be donated, the value of the goods or
services, and when the goods and services will be donated. Specific
dates (month/day/year) corresponding to the proposed grant period or to
dates within the grant period when matching contributions will be made
available, must be included.
Verification for cash or in-kind contributions donated outside the
proposed time period of the grant will not be accepted. Verification
for in-kind contributions that are over-valued will not be accepted.
The valuation process for the in-kind funds does not need to be
included in the application, especially if it is lengthy, but the
applicant must be able to demonstrate how the valuation was achieved at
the time of notification of tentative selection for the grant award. If
the applicant cannot satisfactorily demonstrate how the valuation was
determined, the grant award may be withdrawn or the amount of the grant
may be reduced.
Matching Funds are subject to the same use restrictions as grant
funds. Matching Funds must be spent or donated during the grant period
and the funds must be expended at a rate equal to or greater than the
rate grant funds are expended. Some examples of acceptable uses for
matching funds are: Skilled labor performing work required for the
proposed Project, office supplies, and purchasing inventory. Some
examples of unacceptable uses of matching funds are: Real property,
fixed equipment, buildings, and vehicles.
Expected program income may not be used to fulfill the Matching
Funds requirement at the time of application. If program income is
earned during the time period of the grant, it is subject to the
requirements of 7 CFR part 3015, subpart F and 7 CFR 3019.24 and any
provisions in the Grant Agreement.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: November 30, 2009 for unreserved funds.
November 30, 2009 for reserved funds.
Explanation of Deadlines: Paper applications must be postmarked,
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by the deadline date (see Section
IV.F. for the address). Final electronic applications must be received
by Grants.gov by the deadline date. If an application does not meet the
deadline above, it will not be considered for funding. Applicants will
be notified that their applications did not meet the submission
deadline.
[[Page 45173]]
D. National Environmental Policy Act
All grants made under this NOFA are subject to the requirements of
7 CFR 1940 subpart G. Applications for planning purposes and technical
assistance are generally categorically excluded from the environmental
review process by Sec. 1940.333, provided that the assistance is not
related to the development of a specific site.
E. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order (EO) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, applies to this program. This EO requires that Federal
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance
with State and local governments. Many States have established a Single
Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. A list of
States that maintain an SPOC may be obtained at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. If an applicant's State has an
SPOC, the applicant may submit the application directly for review. Any
comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to Rural
Development for consideration as part of the application. If the
applicant's State has not established an SPOC, or the applicant does
not want to submit the application, Rural Development will submit the
application to the SPOC or other appropriate agency or agencies.
Applicants are also encouraged to contact their Rural Development
State Office for assistance and questions on this process. The Rural
Development State Office can be reached by calling 800-670-6553 and
selecting option ``1'' or by viewing the following Web site: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.
F. Funding Restrictions
Funding restrictions apply to both grant funds and matching funds.
Funds may only be used for planning activities or working capital for
Projects focusing on processing and marketing a value-added product.
1. Examples of acceptable planning activities include:
i. Obtaining legal advice and assistance related to the proposed
Venture;
ii. Conducting a Feasibility Study of a proposed Value-Added
Venture to help determine the potential marketing success of the
Venture;
iii. Developing a Business Plan that provides comprehensive details
on the management, planning, and other operational aspects of a
proposed Venture; and
iv. Developing a marketing plan for the proposed Value-Added
product, including the identification of a market window, the
identification of potential buyers, a description of the distribution
system, and possible promotional campaigns.
2. Examples of acceptable working capital uses include:
i. Designing or purchasing an accounting system for the proposed
Venture;
ii. Paying for salaries, utilities, and rental of office space;
iii. Purchasing inventory, office equipment (e.g. computers,
printers, copiers, scanners), and office supplies (e.g. paper, pens,
file folders); and
iv. Conducting a marketing campaign for the proposed Value-Added
product.
3. No funds made available under this solicitation shall be used
to:
i. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or
facility, including a processing facility;
ii. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including
processing equipment;
iii. Purchase vehicles, including boats;
iv. Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
v. Pay expenses not directly related to the funded Venture;
vi. Fund political or lobbying activities;
vii. Fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019;
viii. Fund architectural or engineering design work for a specific
physical facility;
ix. Fund any expenses related to the production of any commodity or
product to which value will be added, including seed, rootstock, labor
for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity to a processing
facility. The Agency considers these expenses to be ineligible because
the intent of the program is to assist producers with marketing value-
added products rather than producing Agricultural Commodities;
x. Fund research and development;
xi. Purchase land;
xii. Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support
previously provided;
xiii. Pay costs of the Project incurred prior to the date of grant
approval;
xiv. Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise which
does not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either
citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after
being legally admitted for permanent residence;
xv. Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States; or
xvi. Conduct activities on behalf of anyone other than a specific
Independent Producer or group of Independent Producers. The Agency
considers conducting industry-level Feasibility Studies and Business
Plans that are also known as feasibility study templates or guides or
business plan templates or guides to be ineligible because the
assistance is not provided to a specific group of Independent
Producers.
xvii. Pay for any goods or services provided by a person or entity
who has a Conflict of Interest. Also, note that in-kind Matching Funds
may not be provided by a person or entity that has a Conflict of
Interest. See Section IV.B.10.iii of this notice for additional
information.
G. Other Submission Requirements
Paper applications must be submitted to the Rural Development State
Office for the State in which the Project will primarily take place.
Addresses can be found online at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html or in the ADDRESSES section at the beginning of this Notice.
Applications can also be submitted electronically at https://www.grants.gov. Applications submitted by electronic mail or facsimile
will not be accepted. Each application submission must contain all
required documents in one envelope, if by mail or courier delivery
service.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on
the following criteria. Applications for Planning Grants have different
criteria to address than applications for Working Capital Grants.
Unless otherwise noted, all scoring for both Planning and Working
Capital Grant applications will be done on a graduated scale reflecting
how the criteria were addressed.
1. Criteria for Planning Grant Applications
i. Nature of the proposed venture (0-8 points). Projects will be
evaluated for technological feasibility, operational efficiency,
profitability, sustainability and the likely improvement to the local
rural economy. Evaluators may rely on their own knowledge and examples
of similar ventures described in the proposal to form conclusions
regarding this criterion. Points will be awarded based on the greatest
expansion of markets and increased returns to producers.
ii. Qualifications of those doing work (0-8 points). Proposals will
be reviewed for whether the personnel who are
[[Page 45174]]
responsible for doing proposed tasks, including those hired to do the
studies, have the necessary qualifications. If a consultant or others
are to be hired, more points may be awarded if the proposal includes
evidence of their availability and commitment as well. If staff or
consultants have not been selected at the time of application, the
application should include specific descriptions of the qualifications
required for the positions to be filled. Qualifications of the
personnel and consultants should be discussed directly within the
response to this criterion. If resumes are included, those pages will
count toward the page limit for the narrative.
iii. Commitments and support (0-5 points). Producer commitments
will be evaluated on the basis of the number of Independent Producers
currently involved as well as how many may potentially be involved, and
the nature, level and quality of their contributions. End-user
commitments will be evaluated on the basis of potential markets and the
potential amount of output to be purchased. Proposals will be reviewed
for evidence that the project enjoys third party support and
endorsement, with emphasis placed on financial and in-kind support as
well as technical assistance. Support should be discussed directly
within the response to this criterion. If support letters are included,
those pages will count toward the page limit for the narrative. Points
will be awarded based on the greatest level of documented and
referenced commitment.
iv. Project leadership (0-8 points). The leadership abilities of
individuals (i.e. owners, not consultants) who are proposing the
Venture will be evaluated as to whether they are sufficient to support
a conclusion of likely project success. Credit may be given for
leadership evidenced in community or volunteer efforts. Leadership
abilities should be discussed directly within the response to this
criterion. If resumes are attached at the end of the application, those
pages will count toward the page limit for the narrative.
v. Work plan/budget (0-8 points). Applicants must submit a work
plan and budget. The work plan will be reviewed to determine whether it
provides specific and detailed descriptions of tasks that will
accomplish the project's goals. The budget must present a detailed
breakdown of all estimate