Disc value-added AG pmdg-BEG & SOC disadv farmers & ranchers

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Zafa Wines LLC received a $249,377 Project Grant award on September 15, 2025, from the Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS), administering agency for the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771). The award supports a two-year initiative concluding September 15, 2027, focused on providing technical assistance for value-added agricultural processing enterprises and supporting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in developing cooperative structures in Wisconsin.

Under this Rural Cooperative Development Grants award, Zafa Wines LLC will deliver hands-on technical assistance services designed to facilitate the startup, expansion, and operational improvement of rural cooperatives. These services typically encompass feasibility studies, business planning, governance training, and ongoing operational support tailored to agricultural producers seeking to establish or enhance mutually-owned business entities. The award aligns with the program's broader mission to improve economic conditions in rural areas by strengthening cooperative development capacity and enabling underserved agricultural communities to build sustainable, collectively-operated enterprises.