Grant Writing

Clients are eligible for consultation regarding grant funding opportunities and assistance with grant writing/applications. DBIC staff will help identify funding sources as well as assist with grant applications. In 2010, the DBIC grant writing program is emphasizing the USDA Value-Added Producer Grants, but is open to discussing other grants with clients. The DBIC Client Manager refers the client directly to the appropriate DBIC staff. DBIC’s commitment to this service includes:

(1) Meeting with client to agree on the scope of work and time frame to complete the grant by its deadline.

(2) The scope of work may include the following: assisting with market and business research; interviewing client to gather relevant business, product, and market information; identifying the appropriate DBIC consultants and sub-contractors for the project; preparation of a work plan and budget; writing text for client’s review; review of final text for submission; completion of standard forms; and communication with the funding organization.

(3) An initial fee based on the sliding scale below will be charged to the client. This will initiate the beginning of the actual work.

• Small Farm (under $250,000 gross sales): $250
• Medium Farm ($250,000 - $1 million gross sales): $500
• Large Farm ($1 million+ gross sales): $1,000

* Farm sizes determined by USDA

(4) DBIC will support up to 50 hours of grant writing services to the client. Note: clients often are eligible for and wish to apply for multiple grants or loans under this program. Only the first 50 hours of the service are free, and then a fee of $90/hour will be charged. Both the free service and the charges will be clearly denoted in the scope of work beforehand. Additionally, two hours of guaranteed consultant follow up, as part of either the implementation or rejection of the award, are included in the initial 50 hours of grant writing service.

(5) In order for DBIC to write a planning grant, the client must request assistance of DBIC as part of the work plan of the grant, if awarded. The cost of including the DBIC in an activity funded by an outside agency is $90/hour. The DBIC can assist with production, technical, marketing, business development, feasibility studies, market assessments, consumer focus groups, training, financial analysis, and management tasks. The DBIC grant writing service will identify the appropriate DBIC services and DBIC consultants for your project.

If awarded, the DBIC may coordinate and track the DBIC consultants and the grant funds to pay for them. A separate agreement will be signed for this service.

(6) In the alternative event that DBIC assistance is not part of the work plan of the grant (i.e. USDA Working Capital VAPG), the client will pay DBIC 12 percent of the grant award.

(7) Prior to the beginning of grant writing, an agreement outlining the obligations of each party will be signed by the applicant, the grant writer(s), and a member of the DBIC Board of Directors.

It is important to note that the cost to clients for this service is minimal, when considering the true cost for grant writing can typically cost 18 to 20 percent of the total grant awarded. The DBIC strives to keep its fee structure minimal to provide access to all clients.