Your 90‑day guide to a complete, competitive VAPG proposal
Preparing a USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) application is a big lift—and the timeline is tight. Most cycles allow roughly 90 days from posting to deadline, and the application includes multiple moving parts, from eligibility and registrations to scoring narratives, letters of support, and budget documentation. The VAPG Application Planner breaks the process into three clear month‑long sprints so you can stay organized, reduce last‑minute stress, and submit your best work.
Inside you’ll find:
- A step‑by‑step 90‑day plan with tasks for Month 1: Research, planning & eligibility; Month 2: Drafting & document assembly; Month 3: Editing, review & submission.
- Guidance on registrations and forms (UEI, SAM, SF‑424 series) and how to confirm eligibility with your USDA state desk officer.
- Checklists for scoring sections—Nature of the Proposed Venture, Qualifications, Commitment & Support, Workplan & Budget—plus tips for Administrative Points.
- How to coordinate letters of support, verify match and priority points, and summarize key insights from your Business Plan or third‑party Feasibility Study.
- Final‑week workflows to double‑check budgets and tables, finish forms, and submit confidently through the online portal.
This practical planner helps producers, grant writers, and technical assistance providers move from uncertainty to clarity with a timeline you can follow day by day. It’s the simplest way to organize your team and produce a strong application on time.
Get the VAPG Application Planner
Download the free guide and start your 90‑day plan today.
Want deeper support? Watch FFI’s on‑demand VAPG workshop with Farm Program Manager Andy Larson to get tools, resources, and strategy for a winning proposal.
