EDITOR'S NOTE: Within the Extreme Entrepreneurs Project, Country Pumpkin and Blossom Barn is located in Sutton, not Plainview. We apologize for the error.

Gov. Heineman Awards $850,000 in Grants for Value-Added Ag Projects

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman awarded $850,000 in funding to 25 projects designed to support and enhance Nebraska’s agriculture industry through investments in value-added products and businesses. These grants are the first since the Value-Added Agricultural Act was reauthorized in 2005 as part of the Nebraska Advantage jobs creation package.

“I want to congratulate everyone involved in developing these projects” Gov. Heineman said. “This program provides much-needed seed money to help continue the work of individual agricultural producers and researchers whose work strengthens Nebraska’s value-added industry. I’m pleased we were able to revive this program and make it part of the Nebraska Advantage.”

The program provides grants of up to $75,000 to help offset the costs of research, educational training and market development for value-added products sold by agricultural producers. Applications were reviewed by the Nebraska Rural Development Commission and the state Department of Agriculture, which recommended projects for the Governor’s approval.

The following projects will receive funding:

Assistance with Capitalization will use $41,000 to help provide a biofuels operation with capital assistance and tax-increment financing for researching the potential to market corn syrup ash as a fertilizer. DeWeese BioFuels will contribute matching funds, along with the City of Fairfield.

Control of Salt Cedar will receive $7,580 to increase its educational efforts on alternative solutions for noxious weed management and share that information with other producers. Southwest Nebraska Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) of Cambridge will provide matching funds, along with local investors in Milburn and Brewster.

CountrySide Soybean & Biodiesel will receive $75,000 to provide start-up funds and working capital for a soybean and biodiesel processing plant. CountrySide Cooperative of Firth of will contribute matching funds for the project.

The Distillers’ Grain Research project will receive $6,100 to research and analyze a by-product of ethanol production in an effort to help make distillers’ grains a more marketable product of consistent high quality. Northeast Nebraska RC&D of Plainview will provide matching funds, along with Husker Ag.

Extreme Entrepreneurs will use $44,100 to build a greenhouse for year-round production of produce, in addition to developing a Web site and curriculum for workshop presentations. Country Pumpkin and Blossom Barn of [Sue Sitzmann] Sutton will contribute matching funds.

Freeze & Vacuum Drying Soybeans, Popcorn & Jerusalem Artichokes will receive $22,130 to research freeze-drying of several nontraditional food products. BEC Corporation and Spring Valley Farm of Lincoln, M&M Acres Farm of Syracuse, and John Knapp Farm of Springfield will contribute matching funds.

FOOI-Food Processing Plant Proposal will receive $25,000 to conduct a feasibility study on plans to build and operate a food processing plant. The Wurst Haus, JBWC Accounting, Eustis Body Shop, Grabenstein Insurance Agency, FOOI, Inc., First Bank and Trust, and WNK, Inc., along with local investors in Eustis, will contribute matching funds for the project.

George Paul Vinegar will use $70,000 to help establish a new, value-added industry in the state, marketing gourmet vinegar made with Nebraska-grown fruits. Rolling Hills Vineyard of Cody will contribute matching funds, along with Kimmel Orchard of Nebraska City.

Goat & Sheep Producers Marketing Alliance will receive $20,000 to conduct a feasibility study and develop a strategic business plan for marketing its products. The Center for Rural Affairs, College of St. Mary and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will contribute matching funds.

The Good, Fresh, Local Program will use $35,000 to help expand the number of producers and food manufacturers involved in providing Nebraska-grown products at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Dining Halls. The University Dining Service will provide matching funds, along with the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society.

Heartland Nuts N’ More Cooperative will receive $63,000 to remodel an existing processing facility, purchase equipment and expand product development and marketing efforts. Co-op members will provide matching funds.

Livestock Marketing Co-op will receive $11,500 to develop an animal identification system. Oakland’s FFARM Cooperative members will contribute matching funds.

Local Food Marketing & Distribution Initiative will use $29,100 to develop a Web site and other marketing tools along with food educational events. Nebraska Food Cooperative of West Point will provide matching funds, along with the Buy Fresh, Buy Local program.

The Nuckolls County Ethanol Plant Capitalization Plan will receive $50,000 to develop a business development and capital raising plan. The Nebraska Kansas Rural Development Authority of Nelson will provide matching funds, along with the Superior Chamber of Commerce.

On-Farm Value-Added Processing will receive $74,500 to build a multipurpose processing unit that also includes a retail store. Erickson Pork of Central City will administer the grant and provide matching funds, along with RLE Pork and Prairie Creek Vineyards.

Panhandle Producers Marketing Cooperative will receive $25,000 to involve Future Farmers of America and DECA/Delta Epsilon Chi students in developing a business and marketing plan for the co-op. Twin Cities Development of Scottsbluff will provide matching funds, along with UNL Extension and the Western Nebraska Community College Entrepreneurship Program.

Portable Milking Parlor Feasibility & Marketability Studies will receive $4,500 to conduct a market study and to help develop a cooperative of local producers. Joe Svoboda of DeWeese will administer the grant and contribute matching funds, along with Brad Hinrichs.

Prairieland Dairy Project will use $45,000 to market milk bottled in corn-based plastic bottles for high-end health food stores. The Original Foods Company based in Lincoln will administer the grant and provide matching funds, along with GeneSeek.

The Real Life on the Ranch Program will receive $20,000 to involve youth in the day-to-day operations of several local ranches. The Valentine-Cherry County Economic Development Board will contribute matching funds, along with The Minnechaduza Foundation.

The Renewable Energy Intern Program will receive $60,000 to help provide prospective workers in Nebraska’s renewable energy sector with hands on training and internships. Wayne State College will provide matching funds, along with Robert Byrnes of Oakland.

The Rural Revitalization Through Value-Added Business Development project will receive $60,000 to provide producers with access to operational assistance. The Center for Rural Affairs will administer the grant and provide matching funds, along with the College of St. Mary.

Sustainable Incubator Farm will use $16,100 to help teach immigrants and refugees involved in growing and marketing produce about sustainable agriculture. Community CROPS of Lincoln will contribute matching funds, along with Sunset Community Farms and Harmonia Gardens.

Syriaca will receive $33,400 to educate farmers about uses for the alternative crop syriaca, better known as milkweed. The Nebraska Syriaca Cooperative of Ogallala will provide matching funds, along with Natural Fibers Corporation, Southeast Community College and several producers.

Treasures of Nebraska will use $7,500 to conduct a feasibility study and develop a business plan for an e-commerce Web site featuring Nebraska products including gift baskets from GROW Nebraska and the Nebraska Wineries and Grape Growers Association, both of which will contribute matching funds for the project.

Wines on the Historic Trails will receive $4,230 to promote the role local wineries play in encouraging tourism and local economic development. Prairie Vine Vineyard of Mitchell, Last Chance Winery in Crawford, 17 Ranch Winery in Lewellen, and Southfork Winery in Ogallala will contribute matching funds.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Aaron Sanderford, Gov’s Office, 402-471-1967
Ashley Cradduck, Gov’s Office, 402-471-1970
Linda Fettig, Rural Dev. Comm., 308-749-2291