AGRI Value-Added Grant: Crank Up Your Minnesota Agricultural Biz!
Minnesota Agriculture Department Unveils Applications for AGRI Value-Addition and MPEM Grant Initiatives
Ready to take your Minnesota agricultural business to the next level? The Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant Program is now accepting applications! This initiative aims to supercharge the state's agricultural and renewable energy sectors by funding value-added businesses with targeted equipment investments.
So, what exactly is a "value-added" product? Simply put, it's when you process an agricultural product to add value – think packaging, labeling, or even innovative farming systems like aquaponics.
This round of funding prioritizes projects that bump up food safety, expand hemp fiber production capacity, and support access to kosher or halal markets, among others. You can apply if you're an individual, farmer, business, cooperative, nonprofit, educational institution, local government, or Native American tribal government.
To qualify, you'll need to pony up some dough – the cash match requirements break down like this: for the first $50,000, you'll need to cover 50% of the costs; for anything over that initial amount, you'll cough up 75%, with the state picking up 25% up to a maximum grant award of $150,000.
Let's get some numbers straight: if your project costs $400,000, you'd be eligible for $112,500 in total grant reimbursement. You'd snag $25,000 for the first $50,000 and $87,500 for the remaining $350,000, meaning you'd need to fork over $287,500 of your own dough.
Applications close at 4 p.m. Central Time on August 7, 2025, so don't dilly-dally! Make sure to comb through the Value-Added Request for Proposals - Spring doc for all the deets before submission, which should happen through the MDA's online portal – new users, don't forget to create an account!
AGRI is a vital piece of Minnesota's farming economy strategy, providing resources to nurture business growth while promoting innovation and eco-friendliness in the industry. Don't miss this opportunity to boost your business and help your bottom line – start your application today!
Eligibility Criteria:
- Business Type and Location: Individuals, businesses, agricultural cooperatives, nonprofits, educational institutions, local units of government, and Native American Tribal governments operating in the great state of Minnesota.
- Project Focus: Processing Minnesota agricultural products (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk) or livestock processing (e.g., slaughtering).
- Cash Match: Recipients must provide a 50% cash match for the first $50,000 of project costs and a 75% match for costs above that, up to the maximum grant award of $150,000.
Grant Details:
- Minimum award: $1,000
- Maximum award: $150,000
- Application Deadline: August 7, 2025
- Duration: Information regarding the grant's duration was not provided.
- The AGRI Value-Added Grant Program, accepting applications until August 7, 2025, caters to Minnesota's agricultural businesses, offering grants to finances projects that process agricultural products to add value.
- Interested applicants can include individuals, farmers, businesses, cooperatives, nonprofits, educational institutions, local government, or Native American tribal government, provided their projects focus on processing Minnesota agricultural products or livestock.
- To be eligible for the grant, a 50% cash match is required for the first $50,000 of project costs, and a 75% match for costs above that, with the maximum grant award set at $150,000.
- The defi (deference) to capacity-building in agricultural business lies with MPEM (Minnesota Producers Educational Marketing Board), as they aim to boost food safety, expand hemp fiber production capacity, and support access to kosher or halal markets.
