[OKC] Ag Enhancement and Diversification Grants/Loans

Mon Dec 20 15:18:07 PST 2010

Jennifer Alig

**My email has changed to Jennifer.Alig at deq.ok.gov.**

From: ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org
[mailto:ok-sus-bounces at lists.oksustainability.org] On Behalf Of
Williams, Angela - Pauls Valley, OK
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 3:18 PM
Subject: Ag Enhancement and Diversification Grants/Loans

At our December Fun Country RC&D Council meeting, Jeff Weeks, ODAFF
Agritourism Coordinator gave us a brief update on the funding available
through the state.  I encourage everyone to take a long hard look at
this.  There is approximately $500,000 available towards these grants
and/or loans.  It's going to be a lean couple of years for many
organizations and businesses so please make this information available
to as many as possible.  

Merry Christmas!

Angela

Angela Williams

RC&D Coordinator

USDA-NRCS & Fun Country RC&D

105 N. Indian Meridian

Pauls Valley, OK  73075

(405)238-6544 Office

(405) 238-0687 Mobile

HELPING OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES

Serving the following counties in South Central Oklahoma: Atoka, Bryan,
Carter, Coal, Garvin, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray and Pontotoc.

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P Think Green - please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program

The Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program
provides funds in the form of 0% interest loans or grants for the
purpose of expanding the state's value added processing sector and to
encourage farm diversification. Funds, provided on a cost-share basis,
must be used for marketing and utilization, cooperative marketing, farm
diversification and basic and applied research. All funding proposals
must clearly demonstrate the ability to directly benefit Oklahoma
farmers and ranchers. Proposals are evaluated by a ten member Advisory
Board with their recommendations for funding submitted to the Oklahoma
State Board of Agriculture

*	Farm Diversification Grant
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/fdgrant.pdf>  
*	Marketing and Utilization Loan
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/mugrant.pdf>  
*	Cooperative Marketing Loan
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/cmggrant.pdf>  
*	Basic and Applied Research Loan/Grant
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/bargrant.pdf> 

*	Enhancement and Diversification Evaluation Form
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/evalform.pdf> 

Application Procedure

Applications are evaluated quarterly by an Advisory Board. Proposals may
be submitted anytime to the ODAFF, but 15 copies must be received prior
to the quarter's deadline in order to be eligible for review that
quarter. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals at least 6
months prior to their anticipated start time. Applicants must be at
least 21 years of age and shall reside and be a legal resident of
Oklahoma.

Program Guidelines

Funds must be used to produce alternative ag products or process and/or
market Oklahoma ag products. Activities must create rural economic
development, and indicate the probability of success. Preference is
given to applicants whose:

*	industrial and non-food production processes use ag products 
*	food, feed and fiber products and uses are innovative and add
value to ag products 
*	applications demonstrate a high probability of job creation and
return-on-investment 
*	proposals feature research that is innovative as well as
commercially plausible 
*	proposals demonstrate a high probability of rapid
commercialization 
*	projects demonstrate a commitment for funding from other private
or public sources or from the applicant 
*	proposals center efforts on rural locales 
*	principals are individuals, a group of individuals, an
individual on behalf of a group or corporations that meet the criteria
set forth: to market a product or formulate or implement a marketing
plan for products not marketed through existing cooperatives 
*	proposals must have potential to create additional income for
the farm unit 
*	proposals must provide new, innovative plans for marketing the
product

Farm Diversification Grant

Projects should deal with the diversification of a family farm, ranch or
agritourism venue to non-traditional crops or livestock, on-farm
processing of agricultural commodities or development of an agritourism
venue that will promote access to a new market. Projects cannot be an
extension or expansion of existing operations and must show potential to
create additional income for the farm unit. 

*	Proposals must demonstrate a well-prepared action plan, and
markets must have been researched and possible income must be projected.

*	New and innovative plans for marketing products must be evident.

*	A sound business plan must show potential profits from
diversifying. 
*	Applicants must receive an endorsement from individuals who are
professionals/specialists in the field the applicant is applying.
Advisors must be willing to assist the applicant in fulfilling the
project and have reviewed the application and be willing to answer
questions if contacted. 
*	Grants are available in three levels not to exceed $10,000. 
*	Grants $2,500 or less requires no matching funds. 
*	Grants $2,501 - $5,000 requires some level of cash or in-kind
match in funds. 
*	Grants $5,001 - $10,000 requires a dollar for dollar cash match.

Marketing & Utilization Loan

This loan may be used to assist in the development or implementation of
a sound domestic or foreign marketing plan for Oklahoma agricultural
products, by-products or agritourism venues. New or better uses for
existing agricultural products by the financing of feasibility studies,
business plans or test marketing also qualify. 

*	Loan must be used for product development and/or implementation
of a sound marketing plan. 
*	Applicants are encouraged to use the funds to seek new products,
new markets and marketing ideas. 
*	Proposals should encourage the creation of jobs and industry
within the Oklahoma agricultural economy. 
*	Applicants are encouraged to research potential markets for
their products, estimate the financial possibilities of markets and
present an action plan. 
*	A realistic timeline for success must be presented. 
*	Loans may not be used to purchase land, buildings or equipment.
They may be used for feasibility studies, business plans, legal
expenses, consultant fees, product development and marketing

Cooperative Marketing Loan

This loan is available to entities or individuals wishing to work
together to develop or establish production, process or market
agricultural products, or establish agritourism ventures. The purpose of
this loan is to promote productivity, provide added value to
agricultural products, stimulate agricultural diversification and
encourage processing innovations. 

*	Principles should be individuals rather than a previously
existing corporation. Those individuals must have some type of
cooperative agreement between themselves that will ensure proper
accountability for the proposed plan. 
*	The agreement may be formal or informal, but proof of an
agreement must exist. 
*	Individuals are encouraged to seek marketing partners within
Oklahoma. 
*	Applicants should provide an outlet for products that normally
have not been marketed through an existing marketing cooperative. 
*	A sound marketing plan for the product should be included. 
*	Applicants are encouraged to work with a professional (legal,
agricultural or economic development specialist) who will serve as an
advisor. Consulting fees may be included in the application budget.

Basic & Applied Research Loan/Grant

This loan is available to individuals or entities wanting to conduct
research for the purpose of business creation or expansion focusing on
agricultural products or by-products.

*	Applicants should focus research on use and processing of
agricultural products and by-products. 
*	Applicants should develop the expanded use of technology for
processing of agricultural products and by-products in Oklahoma. 
*	Application must not be aimed at business expansion or creation
without regard to agricultural products use, must not include research
that cannot reasonably be expected to result in a marketable product or
cannot already have been duplicated by other research. 
*	Applications should exhibit thoughtful planning, expansion of
jobs in rural areas and a reasonable opportunity for commercialization.

Specialty Crop Grant

Johnny Roberts, Market Coordinator
2800 North Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
Office:(405)522-6194

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must develop projects solely
to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to any of
the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry: increasing
child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems;
participation of industry representatives at meetings of international
standard setting bodies in which the US government participates;
assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in
developing "Good Agricultural Practices", "Good Handling Practices",
"Good Manufacturing Practices", and in cost-share arrangements for
funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and
processors; investing in specialty crop research, including organic
research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing
food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty
crops; pest and disease control; and sustainability. 

Applications for grant funds should describe how the project potentially
impacts and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry
and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or
individual. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely
benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single
organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations,
institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project
partners.

*	Specialty Crop Grant Program Application
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/grantspecialtycrop.pdf>  

*    Specialty Crop Grant Program Manual
<http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/mktdev/grantspecialtycropmanual.pdf> 

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