Missouri Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program — March 2027 Funding
Application deadline: Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) must receive the complete application by December 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The current official program announcement does not expressly specify the time zone. This is a genuine competitive grant for eligible Missouri agriculture-based business development proposals, not a vendor procurement.
Grant funding and conditions
The maximum cumulative applicant award is $200,000 for a value-added agricultural business concept. Applicants must provide a minimum 10% cash match. Half of the grant is funded using Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credits: the applicant must submit prospective purchaser commitment-to-purchase letters covering at least 50% of the requested grant amount. An award is not final until those tax-credit contributions are received. The total program funding pool for this round is not published in the official materials reviewed.
A nonrefundable application fee of $300 applies to grant requests of $50,000 or less, or $500 to requests above $50,000. For approved awards, a separate MASBDA 10% grant administration fee is due at contract signing under the funder’s budget rules; the program explains how that fee can interact with grant requests or matching contributions. Funds are generally disbursed against approved costs and supporting invoices.
Eligibility and allowable projects
Eligible applicants include Missouri residents age 18 or older and qualifying groups, agriculture-related businesses, or organizations whose proposed value-added agricultural business concept is based in Missouri. The proposed activity must add value to Missouri agricultural products and benefit rural economic development. Permitted predevelopment work includes feasibility and marketing studies, business and marketing plans, cooperative prospectus preparation, legal assistance related to organization, and eligible operational consulting.
Funding is not for land, buildings, equipment, construction, routine payroll, product-production costs, operating overhead, advertising, existing debt, unrelated business expansion, or expenses incurred outside the prescribed project rules. Applicants must document eligibility, the work plan, qualified vendors or subcontractors, project budget and cash contribution, and relevant identity and E-Verify requirements. Successful written proposals may be invited to interview with the MASBDA board in March 2027.
Official application instructions
Review the current MASBDA Value-Added Agriculture program rules and the official current-cycle application. Submit one complete hard copy so it is received by December 15, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at MASBDA, P.O. Box 630, 1616 Missouri Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Incomplete applications are not considered. Confirm application fee, tax-credit-purchaser commitment, signed forms, detailed budget, and all required attachments using the current application. For questions, contact MASBDA at (573) 751-2129.