09/09/08 Value added producer grants

David MacGregor of Cascade has been awarded a one hundred thousand dollar grant to determine the feasibility of converting a geothermal resource into renewable electricity to use in aquaculture, greenhouse heating as well as develop a marketing plan for other geothermal uses. MacGregor is one of the 144 recipients in 37 states to receive more than 19 million dollars in USDA grants. DORR "They provide the basis either for development or some primary working capital for rural Americans including producers as well as non-producers to begin working out new value added processes. This has led to a host of other things that are creating value." USDA Undersecretary for Development Tom Dorr. Other Idaho grants went to Blue Ribbon Artisans for more than 12 thousand 600 dollars. Blue Sage Farm got more than 83 thousand, Morning Star Organic Farm with nearly 86 hundred and Southwind Farms getting the largest value added grant of 298 thousand dollars. DORR "We look forward to analyzing the outcome of those because we do track them and we are able to analyze what kind of economic growth they create and that's what makes it so valuable because we can track it and ultimately determine if we're making the right decisions or not." Dorr says the annual grants help develop business plans, value added products and renewable energy projects. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott