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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:**

September 9, 2003 Gary Korzan - (605) 352-1142

Tammi Schone - (605) 352-1102

**USDA ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR VALUE ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKET
DEVELOPMENT GRANTS:\
\$27.7 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR PLANNING AND WORKING CAPITAL AVAILABLE**

**HURON** - USDA Rural Development announced this week a reminder that
applications for funding of value-added agricultural product market
development activities are due in Huron at the USDA Rural Development
office no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 20, 2003. The grants are
designed to help independent ag producers enter into value-added
activities.

Lynn D. Jensen, State Director for USDA Rural Development said, " The
recent notice of funding availability on September 4^th^ limits the
turnaround time for applicants, but we are encouraged that this program
will have statewide appeal." Jensen added, \"This grant program will
greatly benefit those who are dedicated to advancing value-added
activities in South Dakota.\" The grant program will fund applications
up to \$500,000 in support of expansion of markets for ag commodities or
products and is open to independent producers of agricultural
commodities, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher
cooperatives and majority-owned producer based business ventures.

The Value Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant must
expand customer base for the product or commodity, and can be used for
planning and working capital, according to USDA officials. The
competitive grant process requires a one for one-dollar match by the
applicant and preference will be given to projects producing energy from
biomass and those that demonstrate profitable use of innovative
technologies.

Interested parties may contact Gary Korzan, Cooperative Development
Specialist at the USDA Rural Development State office by calling (605)
352-1142 or by e-mailing <gary.korzan@sd.usda.gov>. Applicants are also
encouraged to review the Federal Register/Vol. 68, No. 171 /September 4,
2003, Pages 52565 -- 52572.

USDA Rural Development\'s mission is to deliver programs in a way that
will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of
life of rural residents. Rural Development is Rural America\'s Venture
Capitalist. Providing equity, liquidity, and technical assistance to
finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and
critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on
these and other rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural
Development office or by visiting USDA\'s web site at
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/).

**-USDA-**

*The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of
discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room
326-W, Whitten Building, 14^th^ and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity employer.*