Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $1 Million for Maine Agricultural Producers

December 06, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that five farms in Maine will receive a total of $1,009,892 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program.
“Maine is known throughout the country for our wild blueberries, potatoes, dairy, and many other wonderful agricultural products.,”said Senators Collins and King.“These investments will help diversify our state’s homegrown products, making them more accessible and appealing to consumers.”
When we help create processing opportunities for Maine farms, we shorten the local supply chain,”said USDA Maine Rural Development Director Rhiannon Hampson. “This results in more choices for Maine consumers, as well as more opportunities and revenue for farmers. The Rural Development grants announced today offer businesses a chance to sustainably jumpstart growth, create jobs and enhance the ‘multiplier effect’ of the dollars being awarded.”
The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. The program is competitive, and USDA evaluates applications at the national level. This year, five Maine farms submitted winning proposals:
###