April-May 2009 Funding Leads

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants - State Components with deadlines in April and May

USDA Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) - deadline July 6, 2009
USDA's Value-added Producer Grants Program (VAPGs) can be utilized to support the creation or enhancement of value-added wood processing and marketing ventures that are owned by forest landowners. VAPGs provide cost-share funding for either: 1.) Planning Activities such as feasibility analysis, business planning, marketing planning and legal work; or 2.) Working Capital for staff, inventory and operational expenses of value-added activities. VAPGs have been utilized by several forest landowner cooperatives throughout the nation to incentivize the early-stage development of their cooperative business ventures. Please contact NNFP for more information and to talk through the prospects for compatability with your value-added wood processing ideas. Visit the VAPG webpage for additional information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) - rolling deadline
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant program of USDA could help with business development and infrastructure support in your community.RBEG grants can be used to pay for the extension of services, building of roads, training and technical assistance and professional services for rural enterprises. Forest-based business can utilize this grant program to expand their operations, move to a location, hire legal and professional contractors, or generate other expansion for high-impact rural enterprise growth and development. For instance, NNFP member, Mass Woodlands Cooperative, has utilized RBEG funding to build markets and improve wood processing opportunities for its FSC-certified wood products. More information is available at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm.