Value added producer grants disaster (vapg disaster) - grant

On September 19, 2025, the Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS) awarded a $250,000 Project Grant to Jose N. Ramirez Lugo, doing business as Ram Agro, under the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Disaster program (CFDA 10.352). This award supports the awardee's entry into value-added agricultural processing and marketing activities, with a performance period extending through September 19, 2027. The grant is designated as disaster relief funding and will support either planning activities—such as feasibility studies and business plan development to validate economic viability—or working capital for day-to-day operational expenses associated with processing or marketing value-added agricultural products.

The VAPG program, administered by RBCS, distributes competitive federal funding to agricultural producers and producer-based entities to facilitate their transition into higher-value agricultural ventures. Notably, VAPG funds are restricted and cannot support agricultural production, real property acquisition, or fixed equipment and vehicle purchases. Ram Agro's grant represents one of the program's recent maximum award amounts, reflecting the significant investment in supporting agricultural producers in Puerto Rico to develop sustainable value-added business operations.