BI grants - rcdg discretionary value-added agricultural prod MKT dvlp

Graze LLC received a $250,000 Project Grant award from the Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program (CFDA 10.352), with an award date of August 18, 2025, and ultimate completion date of August 18, 2027. The award supports value-added agricultural product market development activities in Maine. Under the VAPG program, the funding is designated to support either working capital grants for day-to-day operating expenses associated with processing and marketing value-added agricultural products, or planning grants for feasibility studies and business plan development. Grant funds may not be applied to agricultural production, construction, real property purchases, or fixed equipment and vehicle acquisitions.

As a project grant within the VAPG program's two-year funding cycle, this award enables Graze LLC to advance processing and/or marketing activities that transform raw agricultural commodities into higher-value products. The competitive funding award reflects the rural agricultural producer's qualification through the VAPG application evaluation process, which assesses criteria including the nature of the proposed venture, key personnel qualifications, commitments and support, work plan and budget, and priority or discretionary points.