Return to search Agriculture Innovation Center Grant Program
From U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Grant and matching funds may be used to operate an agriculture innovation center, and to provide the following services to agricultural producers: •Business development services, such as feasibility studies and business plans. •Market development services, such as marketing plans, branding, and customer identification. •Organizational assistance, such as legal and technical advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business. •Financial advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business, such as assistance with obtaining credit for operating costs, training on using financial management software, and guidance on use of cash flow. •Process development services, such as engineering services, scale production assessments, and systems development. •Product development, such as idea generation, concept testing, feasibility and cost analysis, product taste-testing, demographic and other types of consumer analysis, production analysis, recipe development, evaluation of packaging and labeling options, and brand development for a value-added agricultural product. •Value chain coordination, or directly working with an agricultural producer to connect that producer to a distribution system, processing facility, or commercial kitchen. •Grants to agricultural producers for the above services, where the individual award does not exceed $5,000.
