Saturday, April 11, 2009

Where can you find Government grants for agricultural purposes?

I am looking to start a small cattle business, and would like to know if there is any way that I can receive government assistance in the form of a grant. Does anyone know of a legitimate institute, phone number, or website that can provide me with the correct information. Thanks!


You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, http://www.cfda.gov which is the main database that lists all government grants. Here is the section on agricultural grants http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.FUNCTIONAL_AREA_RPT2.SHOW?p_arg_names=func_cat_cd&p_arg_values=A

I can see grants for improving production, farm storage facilities, and grants that facilitate the development of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods -- but not a single one for starting a cattle business.

Typically, it is hard to find grants to start a business -- even for an agricultural business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

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