News Release

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has awarded six Missouri agricultural projects with grant funding to assist them in growing their agricultural businesses. The awards from Missouri's Value-Added Grant Program support business development and assist agribusinesses with plans to produce more valuable end products.

"These value-added grants give Missouri producers the tools they need to expand their businesses and add value to Missouri's agricultural products," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "Governor Nixon has been focused on growing Missouri's agriculture economy, and his support of our agribusinesses and all of Missouri agriculture is vital to our continued success. We congratulate all of these businesses on taking the steps to move their businesses forward."

The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) awarded the value-added grants to foster new enterprises that will aid rural economic development. The grants are funded from the sale of tax credits and can be used for business planning purposes, such as feasibility studies, marketing plans and business plans.

The maximum grant amount is $200,000, and the recipient is required to provide a 10 percent cash match toward the eligible expenses. The grants were awarded to:

• Grove Dairy Products, Mountain Grove - for product development, market analysis and legal setup for the dairy to market cheese and yogurt into retail, wholesale and school food service markets. $64,900
• Harvey's Pecans, Brunswick - to conduct a feasibility study, business plan and marketing analysis on Missouri native northern pecans. $38,500
• Missouri Agricultural Wastewater Producer Consortium, Pilot Grove - for market feasibility, financial model development and financing strategies for a producer-owned renewable energy production cycle. $127,500
• Ozark Mountain Creamery, LLC, Mountain Grove - to conduct a feasibility study, marketing analysis and business plan for a fluid milk dairy. $28,600
• Ozark Minerals, LLC, Patterson - for a feasibility study, marketing analysis and business plan to determine new uses for agricultural red lime. $71,500
• Pierce Seed Company, Caruthersville - to perform a feasibility study, marketing analysis and business plan for new uses for raw rice. $40,700

For more information about participating in this program, contact the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority at (573) 751-2129 or masbda@mda.mo.gov.

Note: Contact information for each grant recipient is below.

Grant Recipients:
Harvey's Pecans, Terry Smith, (573) 823-9599
Missouri Agricultural Wastewater Consortium, Ronnie Felten, (660) 834-3761
Ozark Mountain Creamery, LLC, Teresa Fry, (417) 926-3276
Ozark Minerals, LLC, Jim Scaggs, (573) 856-4505
Pierce Seed Company, Bob Pierce, (573) 333-4454
Grove Dairy Products, Stacey McCallister, (417) 668-5504