# Presentation: 660113

## Value-Added Producer Grants 

- Creating A
- Successful Application

- Grants Plus, Inc.

## Introduction 

- How to secure the successful application for a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant

- Grants Plus, Inc.

## Agenda

- What to look for in a grant consultant
- How to research the NOFA
- Communication with USDA Rural Development
- Nuts & Bolts -  VAPG application
- What to expect once your application has been awarded

- Grants Plus, Inc.

## Overview 

- Successful applications are often a reflection of well spent time and analytical organization
- By taking strategic steps to address what has been outlined in the NOFA and by listening to the advice of Rural Development, USDA will assist you in future endeavors to secure funding from a myriad of sources, e.g. loans, grants, investors, etc.

- Grants Plus, Inc.

## Grant Consultants

- Training
- Samples of work
- References
- Contract
- Details – Pay Attention
- Point Person
- Agmrc – agmanager.info

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
Training – Review resume, training, track record

References – Call references and question them about consultant relationship, work completed on time, neat, professionalism, accessibility

Contract – This should outline the consultant’s responsibilities, your responsibilities, what will happen if they aren’t able to complete the work, services provided, time limits, fees, sharing your documents with others, termination of contract

Details – Ensure important deadlines are not missed and quality proposals are produced.  Should include at least 2 draft proposal deadlines and one final deadline before submission deadline (July 30th)

Point person – Establish who will be company’s contact person and who will stay on top of the consultant’s work

Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Will provide tips on what to look for in a consultant, questions to ask during interviews, identifying red flags, what you need to include in the contract

## Researching the NOFA

- NOFA – Notice of Financial Availability
- Expectations – grants are not free money
- Good organization skills
- Eligibility – organization and project
- Order
- Define which of your activities that you desire to be funded are eligible for the grant and matched funds
- Once awarded – this is part of your contract with USDA

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
Expectations will be spelled out in the NOFA

Good organization - Outline NOFA expectations and what needs to be covered in the application.  If you miss one requirement, your application will not be eligible for a grant award

Order - Outline NOFA and create a checklist from that – identify goals, objectives, problems, solutions, and progress

On the checklist and in the application – Follow the order in which the scoring criteria are outlined 

Once awarded – Your grant application becomes a contract

## Communication with USDA Rural Development

- Begin communication immediately
- Eligibility
- Matching Funds
- Pool your questions
- Notetaking

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
Larry Carnahan is a great resource for information regarding your project.  He will work with you to be successful

Funding - USDA can not promise your project will be funded but they can provide good input, if you follow their advice

Note what Rural Development emphasizes in your discussions and include whatever they tell you to include in the application

Follow up – Call periodically or email Larry Carnahan to update him on progress, challenges, and solutions

## Nuts & Bolts of the VAPG Application

- Outline & checklist
- Follow sequence given in the NOFA
- Pay attention to details – YOU!!
- Editing & drafts
- Get others involved
- Utilize the checklist
- Grandma Test
- No assumptions about definitions and comprehension of your project

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
Your checklist will ensure you don’t miss any pieces required in the NOFA, as well as provide the order in which to include that information

Your contact person has to pay attention to all details and analyze the NOFA, to guarantee your time and money are well spent.  By doing so, you will ensure the consultant will pay attention to detail also.  This doesn’t mean every grant consultant needs micromanaging.  However, there are “consultants” who will offer their services but do not have either the training, track record, work ethic and/or self-discipline needed to complete a thorough, complete grant application

Ascertain there will be enough draft revisions so the final grant application is polished and professional.  Most of the time, you cannot recognize the first draft from the third draft

Have several “evaluators” within your company to review the application and utilize the checklist.  This will guarantee all components are addressed in the application and will enable you to address spelling and grammatical errors the grant consultant has missed

Grandma Test – Have someone outside the organization, who knows nothing (or very little) about your project, to review the grant application.  If he/she can tell you what it is for, what you are wanting to do and why you want to do it, you have a good application

## Nuts & Bolts of the VAPG Application, cont.

- Acronyms & technical language
- Tables and graphs
- Matched funds
- Establish deadlines for completion of drafts
- The final deadline
- Time involved by you and the consultant

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**

Do not form assumptions that the government evaluators understand the acronyms and jargon specific to your industry.  Explain everything and write at a level that is easy to understand

Explain the relevance of all tables and graphs in the narrative

Matched funds – Need to be verifiable and in the bank.  If from other sources, make sure the funds were did not originate from USDA

The deadlines for drafts are important as is the final deadline.  You need enough lead time from your established final deadline and July 30th so if anything dramatically changes (key people involved, industry commitments and support, etc.), you will have sufficient time to make corrections before the USDA deadline (July 30th)

The time it takes to write a grant application varies based on the knowledge of the market by the grant consultant.  For those who understand your project, it takes approximately 60 – 80 hours to write a quality application.  For consultants that do not understand your project and the commodity it involves, it takes approximately 80 – 120 hours to complete an application sufficiently.  If you work with a consultant, it is more imporant he/she have a successful track record writing government grant applications and be trained to write grants rather than have knowledge in your field.

## A Successful Application!

- Maintain communication with USDA
- Technical Assistance grants
- Research potential consultants – Agmrc
- _[www.agmanager.info](http://www.agmanager.info/)_
- Interview questions
- Resumes & portfolios
- Reference questions
- Red flags
- Contracts
- Components of the feasibility study/business & marketing plans

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
If you haven’t established communication with Larry Carnahan yet, you need to do so.  Once you receive a grant award, he will be an invaluable resource for clarifying information and working with you regarding unexpected challenges, solutions, and receiving your grant award

Excellent resources are also available on the Agmrc website and at Kansas Ag Innovation Center website regarding consultants, components of feasibility studies and business plans and a wealth of other information that will assist your venture in its success

## A Successful Application!

- Agmrc – Directory of consultants
- Quality of product
- Details within the contract
- Services provided
- Clause, “Final payment will not be made to the consultant/firm until final approval for the feasibility study/business plan/marketing plan has been received by (Your company’s name) from USDA Rural Development.”
- Data & Report timelines

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
The Kansas Ag Innovation Center will assist you in your effort to work with consultants

Remember, when working with consultants to complete the feasibility study and business plan, if USDA does not think all components are adequately addressed in the reports, they do not have to reimburse you for consultant expenses.  Therefore, put a clause in the consultant contract that USDA will approve these documents before final payment is made to the consultant

## A Successful Application!

- Operating Capital Grants
- Communication
- Deadlines
- Reports & reimbursement
- Expectations

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
It is your responsibility to maintain communication with USDA.  Keep in mind that even you do not like surprises.

Be cognizant of all deadlines for reports as well as those deadlines outlined in your grant application.  Communicate with Rural Development prior to missing a deadline

Expectations – Learn from your mistakes.  As your organization succeeds, expectations will increase

## Summary

- Eligibility
- Communication
- Pay attention to details
- Be organized
- Commit time to doing it right

- Grants Plus, Inc.

**Notes:**
Call Larry Carnahan to ascertain your eligibility as an applicant.  Also discuss eligibility regarding product, activities and matching funds

Communicate regularly.  When in doubt about the NOFA language, call or email Larry Carnahan

Utilize the checklist and be mindful of your deadlines

Allow yourself enough time to complete the application in a thorough, well thought-out manner

## Where to Get More Information

- www.agmanager.info
- The Grantsmanship Center – _[www.tgci.com](http://www.tgci.com/)_
- Grantseeker’s Toolkit:  A Comprehensive Guide to Finding Funding, New & Quick, ISBN 0-471-19303-8
- Grant Writing for Dummies, Bev Browning, ISBN 0-7645-5307-0

- Grants Plus, Inc.

## Where to Get More Information

- Catalog of Federal and Domestic Funding:  _[www.cfda.gov](http://www.cfda.gov/)_
- Federal Register:  _[www.access.gpo.gov/nara](http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara)_
- The Foundation Center:  _[www.fdncenter.org](http://www.fdncenter.org/)_
- Grants Plus, Inc. – Deanna Vogler
- 	(785) 462-2978 or _[dbvogler@netks.net](mailto:dbvogler@netks.net)_

- Grants Plus, Inc.