About
The purpose of the Agriculture Innovation Center Grant Program is to establish and operate Agriculture Innovation Centers that provide technical and business development assistance to agricultural producers seeking to engage in the marketing or the production of Value-Added products. This program supports Rural Development’s mission of improving the quality of life for rural Americans and commitment to directing resources to those who most need them.
Grants and matching funds may be used to operate an Agriculture Innovation Center and to provide the following services to agricultural producers:
- Consulting services for legal, accounting and technical services to be used by the recipient in establishing and operating a Center
- Hiring employees for the Center
- Making of matching grants to agricultural producers
- Applied research
- Legal services
- Technical assistance to agricultural producers, including engineering services, scale production assessments, market planning and development, business planning, and other advisory services
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit corporations, public bodies, and institutions of higher education.
Available Funding
The program funding is $3.5 million, with a maximum grant amount of $1,000,000.
Matching Funds Requirement
Matching funds are required for at least one-third of the total project budget.
For more information on your business’s eligibility, contact us here