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

Matheson Oyster Company LLC received a $250,000 Project Grant award from the Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS) under the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program (CFDA 10.352) on September 10, 2025. The award supports the company's entry into value-added processing and/or marketing activities related to oyster products, with a two-year performance period concluding on September 10, 2027. The funding may be applied toward either planning activities—such as feasibility studies and business plans to validate economic viability—or working capital to support day-to-day operational expenses for active value-added ventures, though not both simultaneously.

Under the VAPG program administered by RBCS, eligible agricultural producers and producer-based businesses receive competitive grant funding to develop new value-added products, expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Grant funds may not be used for agricultural production, construction, real property acquisition, or fixed equipment and vehicle purchases. The award to Matheson Oyster Company LLC in Virginia aligns with the program's objective of enabling agricultural producers to enhance profitability through value-added processing and marketing initiatives rather than commodity production alone.