Persistent poverty agricultural product market development grants

La Finca De Abuelo Miguel Inc. (doing business as Finca Pastoreo) received a $173,806 Project Grant award dated September 19, 2025, from the Rural Business Cooperative Services to support persistent poverty agricultural product market development activities in Puerto Rico. The funding is provided through the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program (CFDA 10.352), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The award has a performance period extending through September 19, 2027.

Under this award, the awardee will develop and implement value-added agricultural product processing and/or marketing initiatives intended to enhance economic viability and producer income. The grant funding supports activities such as feasibility studies, business planning, and working capital expenses directly tied to processing or marketing value-added agricultural products. As with all VAPG awards, the funding may not be used for agricultural production costs, construction, real property acquisition, or fixed equipment and vehicle purchases. This award reflects the federal government's competitive grant distribution mechanism, whereby applications are evaluated and ranked according to established criteria including venture nature, personnel qualifications, stakeholder commitments, work plans, and budgets before funding allocation.