New VAPG templates for Oregon
2/3/2008
USDA Rural Development - Oregon has updated the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
information sheet to reflect the new information, deadlines, etc.
VAPG template for a FY2008
Planning grant (.doc)
VAPG template for a FY2008 Working Capital grant
(.doc)
VAP Grant Overview (PDF)
USDA Rural Development - Oregon devoted the last several days to studying the
notice's contents and the changes. By and large there are only minor changes.
Eligible applicants, eligible value-added categories, and eligible purposes are
essentially unchanged. Nevertheless, there are some changes. Here are the
highlights of what is new:
- The deadline for applications is March 31, 2008.
- Applications are to be submitted to the RD State Office this year rather
than to Washington, DC.
- The priority scoring system is just slightly changed. The categories
remain the same, but the relative weight of the first five criteria, which had
ranged from 5-10 potential points, are equalized (each one is now worth 8
points).
- Letters verifying matching funds from lenders and third parties must now
expressly recite the specific dates (month/day/year) that the matching funds
will be made available (and these dates must fall within the grant time
period).
- For Working Capital proposals, submission of feasibility studies and
business plans mentioned in the application may now be required by the State
Office. Oregon's policy will be that we would like to receive the feasibility
study and the business plan with the application, but in all cases we will
require that they be submitted to us by not later than April 30, 2008.
With these changes in mind, we have fully updated both the Planning and
Working Capital application templates. These are attached for your use for
preparing FY2008 VAPG applications. These replace the draft templates that were
on the packager training CD-ROM we provided some of you; THOSE CD-ROM TEMPLATES
ARE NOW OBSOLETE. Besides incorporating the changes mentioned above, the new
templates have been improved as follows:
- Most of the input fields appear in dark blue font. This should make it
easier to distinguish between what you write and what is in the template.
- The application numbering style has been changed to match the Federal
Register's format. This should make it easier to compare applications against
the official Federal Register notice.
Additional guidance, updates, and information will be made available as the
need arises. Please don't hesitate to contact us as you proceed. We look forward
to your questions and projects.
We wish you all the best of luck in 2008's VAPG competition. Go Oregon!
Martin A. Zone, Rural Business-Cooperative Specialist
USDA Rural Development - Oregon State Office
Ph: 503.414.3361
E-mail: martin.zone@or.usda.gov
Jeff Deiss, Business & Cooperative Program Director
USDA Rural Development, Oregon State Office
Ph: 503-414-3367
jeff.deiss@or.usda.gov
Website:
www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rbs.htm
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