Meetings will be scheduled throughout Nebraska regarding the recently announced Value-Added Product Market Development Grant program. Locations are: Beatrice--March 17- 1:30 p.m. CT Beatrice Public Library 100 N. 6 th . Contact Deb Yocum at 402-223-3125. North Platte-March 22 -9:00 a.m. CT McKinley Multipurpose Room, 301 West F St. Contact Karissa Hagedorn, 308-237-3118. Kearney-March 23- 9:00 a.m. CT Buffalo County Extension, 1400 East 34th St. Contact Karissa Hagedorn, 308-237-3118. Sidney-March 23 -1 p.m. MT Western Nebraska Community College campus; 371 College Drive. Co-sponsored by Western Nebraska Community College Sidney campus. Contact Cyd Janssen, 308-432-4616. O’Neill-March 23 -10:00 a.m. CT Tia Zia’s, 121 S. 4 th St. Contact Mary Gambill 402-387-2242 ext 4 or Teri Olander 402-373-4914 ext 4. Alliance-March 23- 1:30 p.m. MT Alliance Public Library, 1750 Sweetwater Ave. Co-sponsored by Box Butte Development Corp. Contact Cyd Janssen, 308-432-4616. Chadron-March 24- 1:30 p.m. MT Upper Niobrara White Natural Resource District Office; 430 E. 2nd St. Co-sponsored by Upper Niobrara White NRD. Contact Cyd Janssen, 308-432-4616. Wayne-March 24 -1:30 p.m. CT Wayne State College Campus, Meadowlark Room-Student Center. Contact Teri Olander 402-373-4914 ext 4. Thedford-March 24 -1:00 p.m. CT Stub’s Restaurant, E. Hwy 2. Contact Mary Gambill 402-387-2242 ext 4. York-March 29- 9:00 a.m. CT York County 4-H Building, county fairgrounds 2400 Nebraska Avenue. Contact Deb Yocum at 402-223-3125. Valentine-March 30 -10:00 a.m. CT Peppermill Restaurant, 112 N. Main. Contact Mary Gambill 402-387-2242 ext 4. Background: Value-Added Product Market Development Grant program. Approximately $14.3 million was released on March 7 th for eligible agricultural producers, agricultural producer groups, agricultural cooperatives and majority controlled producer-based business ventures for use in Value Added Agriculture projects. Program purpose is to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to process their raw products into marketable, value-added goods, thereby increasing farm income. U p to $150,000 in working capital funds or up to $100,000 in planning grant funds are available. Applications due May 6, 2005. Please contact USDA Representatives Cyd Janssen-Chadron, (308) 432-4616; Mary Gambill-Ainsworth (402) 387-2242; or Karissa Hagedorn-Kearney, (308) 237-3118; Teresa Olander-Bloomfield, (402) 373-4914 and Deb Yocum-Beatrice, (402) 223-3125 for specific information and application assistance. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm" http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm or HYPERLINK "http://www.fpc.unl.edu/Newsworthy/grant.htm" http://www.fpc.unl.edu/Newsworthy/grant.htm for template to assist in compiling an application.