Delaware Farmers Can Apply for Federal Grants Worth Up to $200,000

USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for Value-Added Producer Grants to help Delmarva farmers expand their operations and increase income. The program offers planning grants up to $50,000 and working capital grants up to $200,000, with applications due April 22.

(Editor’s note: Letitia Nichols serves as deputy state director for USDA Rural Development in Maryland and Delaware.)

Several representatives from USDA Rural Development recently attended the 25th annual MidAtlantic Women in Agriculture Regional Conference, demonstrating the agency’s dedication to helping farmers throughout the Delmarva Peninsula and broader Mid-Atlantic area.

The gathering united female farmers, ranchers, agricultural business owners and farm service providers for comprehensive workshops centered on farming topics.

Attending the conference allowed our Rural Development staff to directly hear about the issues and obstacles that women agricultural producers face in our area.

Conference attendees learned from Oksana Bocharova, who successfully received funding through the Value-Added Producer Grant program.

Agricultural producers throughout the Delmarva area can apply for federal grants designed to boost farm revenue and create new market access.

USDA Rural Development is now taking applications for its VAPG initiative. Officials have pushed back the application deadline to 1 p.m. on April 22.

The VAPG initiative ranks among USDA Rural Development’s most sought-after resources for assisting farmers, ranchers, and producer-focused enterprises in creating innovative products, broadening marketing reach, and boosting producer earnings.

This program directly addresses the requirements of numerous area agricultural producers dealing with narrow profit margins and evolving markets.

The VAPG initiative finances two main project categories:

• Planning grants: Financial support for feasibility assessments, business planning, and market analysis for potential projects; and

• Working capital grants: Resources to start or grow processing, marketing, or distribution of value-enhanced products.

For 2026, planning grants have a maximum of $50,000 while working capital grants can reach up to $200,000.

Every grant demands a 1:1 matching contribution, which can consist of cash and qualifying in-kind donations.

USDA continues to mandate that all applications must be filed electronically using their online application system.

The system features a comprehensive user manual and detailed guidance to assist applicants through the submission process.

Potential applicants should start their preparation well in advance.

Due to the program’s competitive and complicated requirements, many producers partner with professional grant writers, cooperative extension personnel, or regional development groups to improve their application quality.

For additional details, reach out to your state’s business programs director or go to https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants.

Lisa Fitzgerald serves as our business programs director for Delaware and Maryland, and can be contacted at lisa.fitzgerald2@usda.gov or 302-857-3628.