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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is accepting applications from producers of Kentucky beef and beef products for advertising and promotion grants from agricultural development funds granted to the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.
“These grants are intended to help producers who want to expand their retail beef business,” said Michael Judge, executive director of the KDA’s Office of Agriculture Marketing and Product Promotion.
The grants are intended to help producers increase sales to consumers through point of sales materials, Web site development, advertising, or promotional activities. Grants also may be awarded to help producers meet legal labeling requirements and other merchandising requirements through upgrade of equipment, package labeling and UPC or bar coding.
The cost-share grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Criteria will include product quality, consumer visibility, ability to meet high-volume demand, number of participants involved and ability to sell at the retail or foodservice level. Applicants must be members of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Kentucky Proud marketing program and must have a current business plan.
All point-of-sale materials, print advertising, Web sites, labels and any other printed materials must include the Kentucky Proud logo and the phrase “Made possible through support from the Agricultural Development Fund.” Transcripts of radio advertisements must be included with applications.
Successful applicants may receive a one-time cost-share match of up to $5,000 for advertising, promotion, Web site development, equipment upgrading, package labeling, bar or UPC coding, or point-of-sales promotion of Kentucky beef or beef products. Applicants must provide at least a 50 percent cash match for all proposed funding. No previous expenditures will be accepted for cost-sharing.
A committee selected by the Department and KCA will assess the applications and award the grants.
Applications must be postmarked or received by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture before March 31, 2006. Faxed applications will not be accepted. Grants will expire on June 30, 2006.
Applications may be obtained by writing to Beef Advertising and Promotion Cost Share, Attn.: Warren Beeler, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. Completed applications must be mailed to this address.
For more information, contact Warren Beeler or Tim Dietrich with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s marketing office at (502) 564-4983.
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