Stephen Gran, Agriculture Industry Development Manager
County Center, 13th Floor
601 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL  33602
Telephone: (813) 272-5506

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The Agricultural outreach program coordinates with the agribusiness industry to evaluate issues of concern and to facilitate communication and problem resolution related to County government agencies. It is also responsible to initiate and assist with efforts to create a business atmosphere that is conducive to the continuation and expansion of agricultural businesses within Hillsborough County for the benefit of all its residents.

The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program is a component of the Hillsborough County Economic Development Department. The program works under the guidance of a council, the Agriculture Economic Development Council, comprised of agribusiness, local chambers of commerce, government, industry, and business leaders.

The purpose of the Agriculture Industry Development Program is to initiate and assist with efforts to create a business atmosphere that is conducive to the continuation and expansion of agricultural businesses within Hillsborough County for the benefit of all its residents.

The major goals of the Agriculture Industry Development Program are:

• To discourage the premature conversion of productive farmland to non-agricultural use.
• Minimize the impact of the regulatory process on agriculture's ability to conduct business, while still achieving the goals of those regulations.
• Improve the economic sustainability of agriculture in Hillsborough County through increased marketing options, alternative crops, value-added processing, capital financing opportunities, and identification of other barriers to the expansion or sustainability of agriculture.
• Promote the expansion and relocation of agribusiness firms in Hillsborough County.

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USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Resources

The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program is encouraging local farmers to take advantage of approximately $18 million in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to help farmers enter into value-added activities.

The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) are available to farmers, cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, or producer-based business ventures. Value-added farm products are those that expand the customer base for the product or commodity, and result in increasing farm revenues.

Grants may be used for business planning activities, such as conducting a market analysis or developing a marketing plan to establish a value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product; for working capital to establish or improve a value-added agricultural product; and for working capital for farm-based renewable energy projects.

Use the materials below to learn more about value-added agriculture and how to apply for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant.

Value-Added Producer Grant Press Release

Value-Added Opportunities
Stephen Gran
Manager - Agriculture Industry Development
Hillsborough County Economic Development Department

Strategies for a Successful Proposal
Shawn T. Steed
Multi County Environmental Horticulture Production Agent II
UF/IFAS Extension

Value-Added Producer Grant Application Process
Joseph M. Mueller
Rural Business-Cooperative Program Director
USDA Rural Development

USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Contacts and Resources

Agriculture Producer Resources

The presentations below provide information about the services available to the agriculture industry from Hillsborough County, the Cooperative Extension Service, US Department of Agriculture, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Hillsborough County Programs

• Economic Development Department - Agriculture Industry Development Program ( PDF, 1.69MB )
• Cooperative Extension Service ( PDF, 1.39MB )
• Small Business Information Center ( PDF, 1.82MB )

Southwest Florida Water Management District

• Agricultural Water Use Permitting – Ag Teams and AGSWM

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

• Fresh from Florida – Agriculture Marketing Program

USDA Programs

• Rural Development Programs
• Renewable Energy Programs
• Farm Worker Housing and Cooperative Development Assistance
• Farm Service Agency
• Farm Loan Programs
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
• Natural Resource Conservation Service