USDA Rural Development Conducting Information Session on Energy and Value-Added Producer Grant Programs via 15-Site ICN Broadcast April 1

Learn more about two exciting agriculture producer- and small business-oriented grant programs by attending an Information Session sponsored by USDA Rural Development from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 1. The session will be conducted via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and broadcast at 15 locations throughout the state, including at Northeast Iowa Community College’s Dairy Education Center located at 1527 Hwy 150 South - Room #114 in Calmar.

Topics include Section 9006 Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Grants and Value-Added Producer Grants.

The renewable energy and energy efficiency programs provide grants and guaranteed loan funds to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses looking to finance a renewable energy or energy efficiency project in 2005. The minimum grant in the program is $2,500, the maximum energy efficiency grant is $250,000, and the maximum renewable energy grant is $500,000.

Eligible energy projects include solar (small and large), biomass, anaerobic digesters, geothermal (including electric generation and direct use), as well as hydrogen, wind (small and large) and energy efficiency. Examples of energy efficiency projects might be upgrading electric motors in equipment, insulation, upgrading electrical systems or heating systems.

A Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Section 9006 Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.

The Value-Added Producer Grant program was authorized by the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 and the 2002 Farm Bill. Grants are available to independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. The grants can be used for planning activities needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product or for acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture that will allow producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.

In the four years of this program, USDA Rural Development has awarded more than $15.1 million in grants in Iowa, assisting 70 projects representing independent producers and producer groups.

For further information about this Information Session, or about either the renewable energy, the energy efficiency or the value-added producer grant programs contact the USDA Rural Development State Office at 515-284-4447. Further information on rural development programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia.