Business Programs

FEDERAL

Below is a summary of other related programs included in the 2002 Federal Farm Bill. Only programs that currently have funding are listed:

Section 6401 - Value Added Producer Grants

  • The Value Added Producer Grant program provides grants of up to $100,000 for business planning or feasibility studies or up to $300,000 for working capital for any value added agricultural activity including renewable energy projects.
  • In the past few years, many ethanol, biodiesel and wind energy projects have received funding through this program.
  • This program is open to independent producers, agricultural producer group, and farmer or rancher cooperatives.
  • In 2006, $19.5 million in grants were available.
  • The deadline for submitting applications in 2007 has not been announced.
    For more information on this program including application forms, templates and instructions, see http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.

Section 9002 - Federal Procurement of Biobased Products

  • Federal agencies are required to give preference to purchasing items containing the highest percentage of biobased products whenever practicable and available.
  • Draft rules have been issued to establish criteria for evaluating and selecting products. To review these draft rules, see http://www.biobased.oce.usda.gov.

Section 9008 - Biomass Research and Development

  • This Section extends the authority of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 through September 30, 2007.
  • This program is funded at $5,000,000 in 2002, and $14,000,000 for each year in 2003-2007, to be made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation.
  • Grants are awarded to universities and private corporations for applied research and development projects covering any aspect of the conversion and utilization of biomass feedstocks for energy and chemical production.

STATE

Please visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm for a comprehensive source of information on state, local, and utility incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.