Westfield venture nets federal grant
WESTFIELD — A growing hops business is among four companies in Maine to receive grant funding from USDA Rural Development.
Staff photo/Anthony Brino
WESTFIELD — The plants are growing high on a trellis on Aug. 28 at Aroostook Hops in Westfield.
Rural agricultural businesses located in Livermore, Waldoboro, Westfield, and Acton will receive Value-Added Producer Grants totaling $247,702 to boost their production efforts, announced Rural Development Deputy Undersecretary Vernita F. Dore recently.
Aroostook Hops, LLC, of Westfield has been selected to receive a grant in the amount of $24,413. Funds will be used to pay for labor costs and to purchase consumable supplies to produce pelletized hops from fresh hops and to package the pellets in nitrogen-flushed, vacuum-sealed, labeled Mylar bags as well as for marketing and promotional expenses.
The funding comes from USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program.
“This funding will enable farmers and ranchers to develop new products, improve the bottom line for their operations and help create a robust local and regional food system,” Dore said. “Value-Added Producer Grants provide capital to enable ag producers to grow their business through diversification. USDA’s support is especially important for beginning farmers and smaller farm operations.”
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “This investment by USDA Rural Development supports the innovation and vision of these four rural Maine agricultural entrepreneurs who are looking to expand marketing opportunities for their value-added agricultural products. These grants will help contribute to the long-term sustainability of each business and aid in retaining and creating jobs in Maine.”
According to the USDA, these grants can be used to develop new agricultural products or additional markets for existing ones. Military veterans, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers, operators of small- and medium-sized family farms and ranches, and farmer and rancher cooperatives are given priority when applying for the money.
The actual funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
Also awarded were Century Elm Farms, dba Boothby’s Orchard and Farm of Livermore; Maine Top Mill, LLC, of Waldoboro; and Cara Sammons, dba Flying Goat Farm, located in Acton.
Since 2009, USDA has awarded 1,115 Value-Added Producer Grants totaling $154 million. Approximately 18 percent of the grants and 14 percent of total funding has been awarded to beginning farmers and ranchers. During 2015, more than one-third of the awards went to farmers and ranchers developing products for the local foods sector.
Rural Development helped 84 agricultural producers carry out local foods projects in 2014 through almost $8.9 million in Value-Added Producer Grant awards.
USDA Rural Development has area offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a state office in Bangor.
