Grassley commended the subcommittee for keeping full funding for his Value-Added Grants program. Grassley developed this program in 2000 to award grants to producers so they may better compete in domestic and international markets. The grants are to be used to assist with the development of business plans for their value-added business ventures or alliances.
"These funds will continue to provide benefit for Iowa and our rural communities. Iowans always have innovative projects that are critical to future success in agriculture." Grassley said. "As the author of the Value-Added Grants program, I'm especially pleased that funding was included for this and the Conservation Security Program."
Here are the Iowa projects that have been included in the bill.
Hungry Canyons, Western Iowa, $1.2 million ? Hungry Canyons focuses on developing streambed stabilization projects that address erosion in the loess soils region of western Iowa. This is the fourth consecutive year Hungry Canyons has received federal funding. The funding has totaled $3.950 million.
National Roadside Vegetation Center and Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Partnership, $500,000 ? This funding will help provide for a greenhouse, laboratory and equipment for a Pilot Partnership Project between the National Roadside Vegetation Center and Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Grassley also secured $500,000 for the National Roadside Vegetation Center at the University of Northern Iowa in the Interior Appropriations bill.
Ag Based Industrial Lubricants, $450,000 ? This project helps expand markets for U.S. grain crops by discovering and promoting new ways to use agricultural-based oils as industrial lubricants. Grassley has pressed the nation's major railroads to expedite approval of SoyTrak grease, a product of ABIL, during meetings with railroad officials and through letters to railroad executives. Grassley placed UNI-ABIL on the national stage when he referred to the program during a Finance Committee confirmation hearing for Treasury Secretary John Snow, a former railroad executive.
Iowa Rural Vitality Project (Iowa State University), $280,000 ? This project would help provide better outreach from the university to small and medium sized rural communities with an overall goal of keeping Iowa's rural communities competitive. Grassley also received notice today that $268,800 was released for the Iowa Rural Vitality Project. This money was designated in the fiscal 2003 appropriations process.
Iowa and Illinois Corn Growers Associations, $500,000 ? This project helps create positive economic returns for growers by assuring quality, managing production information, and maintaining the integrity and value of their products for current and emerging markets.
Northeast Iowa Dairy, $235,000 ? This project helps continue dairy education and research in Iowa. The project is a partnership of the Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Foundation, Northeast Iowa Community College and Iowa State University, and is located in Calmar.