640 
‘‘(i) identify and analyze business op-
portunities; 
‘‘(ii) identify, train, and provide tech-
nical assistance to existing or prospective 
rural entrepreneurs and managers; 
‘‘(iii) assist in the establishment of 
new rural businesses and the maintenance 
of existing businesses, including through 
business support centers; 
‘‘(iv) conduct regional, community, 
and local economic development planning 
and coordination, and leadership develop-
ment; and 
‘‘(v) establish centers for training, 
technology, and trade that will provide 
training to rural businesses in the use of 
interactive communications technologies to 
develop international trade opportunities 
and markets; and 
‘‘(B) projects that support the development 
of business enterprises that finance or facili-
tate— 
‘‘(i) the development of small and 
emerging private business enterprise; 
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‘‘(ii) the establishment, expansion, 
and operation of rural distance learning 
networks; 
‘‘(iii) the development of rural learn-
ing programs that provide educational in-
struction or job training instruction related 
to potential employment or job advance-
ment to adult students; and 
‘‘(iv) the provision of technical assist-
ance and training to rural communities for 
the purpose of improving passenger trans-
portation services or facilities. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subsection $65,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, to remain 
available until expended. 
‘‘(b) VALUE-ADDED
AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCER 
GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) MID-TIER VALUE CHAIN.—The term 
‘mid-tier value chain’ means a local and re-
gional supply network that links independent 
producers with businesses and cooperatives that 
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market value-added agricultural products in a 
manner that— 
‘‘(i) targets and strengthens the prof-
itability and competitiveness of small- and 
medium-sized farms that are structured as 
family farms; and 
‘‘(ii) obtains agreement from an eligi-
ble agricultural producer group, farmer co-
operative, or majority-controlled producer- 
based business venture that is engaged in 
the value chain on a marketing strategy. 
‘‘(B) PRODUCER.—The term ‘producer’ 
means a farmer. 
‘‘(C) VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PROD-
UCT.—The term ‘value-added agricultural prod-
uct’ means any agricultural commodity or prod-
uct— 
‘‘(i) that— 
‘‘(I) has undergone a change in 
physical state; 
‘‘(II) was produced in a manner 
that enhances the value of the agricul-
tural commodity or product, as dem-
onstrated through a business plan 
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that shows the enhanced value, as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(III) is physically segregated in 
a manner that results in the enhance-
ment of the value of the agricultural 
commodity or product; 
‘‘(IV) is a source of farm-based 
renewable energy, including E–85 
fuel; or 
‘‘(V) is aggregated and marketed 
as a locally produced agricultural food 
product; and 
‘‘(ii) for which, as a result of the 
change in physical state or the manner in 
which the agricultural commodity or prod-
uct was produced, marketed, or seg-
regated— 
‘‘(I) the customer base for the 
agricultural commodity or product is 
expanded; and 
‘‘(II) a greater portion of the rev-
enue derived from the marketing, 
processing, or physical segregation of 
the agricultural commodity or product 
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is available to the producer of the 
commodity or product. 
‘‘(2) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
make grants under this subsection to— 
‘‘(i) independent producers of value- 
added agricultural products; and 
‘‘(ii) an agricultural producer group, 
farmer cooperative, or majority-controlled 
producer-based business venture, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) GRANTS TO A PRODUCER.—A grantee 
under subparagraph (A)(i) shall use the 
grant— 
‘‘(i) to develop a business plan or per-
form a feasibility study to establish a via-
ble 
marketing 
opportunity 
(including 
through mid-tier value chains) for value- 
added agricultural products; or 
‘‘(ii) to provide capital to establish al-
liances or business ventures that allow the 
producer to better compete in domestic or 
international markets. 
‘‘(C) GRANTS TO AN AGRICULTURAL PRO-
DUCER
GROUP, COOPERATIVE
OR
PRODUCER- 
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