CONTACT: Matt Russell, 515-271-4956, matthew.russell@drake.edu; Tory Olson, 515-271-1834, tory.olson@drake.edu
Drake University will host a workshop on Thursday, Sept. 17, for farmers, businesses and those interested in applying for grants that will help add value to the commodities they produce.
The workshop, which is sponsored by Drake Law School’s Agricultural Law Center, is free and open to the public. It will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, 2400 University Ave.
These U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Value Added Producer Grants were announced on Aug. 26, when the Department of Agriculture began accepting applications.
Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
The Department of Agriculture will distribute $18 million nationally under the program and it is estimated that 80 applications will be funded. Drake is hosting this workshop to help Iowans prepare and submit grant applications, which are due on Monday, Nov. 30.
Staff from the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office will be on hand to present information and answer questions.
For more information on the workshop, contact Matt Russell at 515-271-4956 or matthew.russell@drake.edu.