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*Funding Announced To Assist Agricultural Producers and Cooperatives Across the Country Rural Enterprises from Maine to California Benefit from Business Assistance Grants * * * On June 3, 2010 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced during the National Summit of Rural America that USDA has selected recipients in 45 states and Puerto Rico to receive business development assistance and pursue marking opportunities for agriculture commodities. Funding is made available through USDA Rural Development assistance under the Value-Added Producer Grant program, which was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. The Value-Added Producer Grants announced today total more than $22.5 million. Funds may be used for feasibility studies or business plans, working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy projects. Eligible applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups. Value-added products are created when a producer increases the consumer value of an agricultural commodity in the production or processing stage. The list of recipients in Michigan include Michigan - Lindah Vineyards, Inc.; $7,400 - Cooperative Elevator Company; $300,000 - Leslie J. Weatherford - Fresh Salsa Express; $35,000 - William Nutting; $48,250 - Mark & Robin Falker; $125,000 - Douglas Valley Organic Farm and Vineyard; $150,000 - Sietsema Farms Feeds, LLC; $149,165 To read the entire article and view the list of all recipients visit * http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html*. *Farm to Food Marketing Grants* ** The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is launching its first farmer’s market initiative this summer: the Farm to Food program. The program provides farmers markets in Michigan to expand and impact communities, including new job creation and job retention. The Farm to Food Marketing grants will be available for non-entitlement communities seeking to construct, rehabilitate, acquire, expand, or improve facilities for the support of three or four season markets. Funding must be used for construction, expansion, acquisition, or improvements of new or existing farmers markets that will be or are located in low and moderate income communities. The maximum grant amount should not exceed $750,000. To read more on this topic visit * http://www.michiganadvantage.org/cm/Files/Fact-Sheets/CDBG_Farm_to_Food.pdf*.To receive consideration for Farm to Food Funding contact should be made with the Community Assistance Team member assigned to you territory. For more information, contact Katherine Czarnecki (517) 241-4950 or * [log in to unmask]*. *Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program* The Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides direct loans, technical assistance grants, and technical assistance-only grants to microdevelopment organizations to support the development and ongoing success of rural micorentrepreneurs and microenterprises. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, but be awarded on a quarterly basis. Applications must be received by July 16, 2010 for consideration for award under Fiscal Year 2010 and September 30, 2010 for consideration for award for funds available in Fiscal Year 2010, but not obligated. Applications and forms may be obtained from any Rural Development State Office. Applicants must submit an original complete application to the USDA Rural Development National Office and provide a copy of the application package to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where the applicant’s project is located. To learn more visit * http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-13380.pdf*. *Michigan Office* USDA Rural Development State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324–5190/TDD (517) 324–5169. If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html