APUC Awarded Funding Requests Totaling $348,165
by ND Department of Commerce Posted on 7/23/2012
Bismarck, N.D. -- The North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awarded funding requests for eight projects totaling $348,165 at its quarterly meeting held July 19th at the AmericInn Lodge & Suites in Beulah.
APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Commerce which administers grant programs for researching and developing new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature based agri-tourism, prototype and technology, and technical assistance.
The following awarded requests were funded:
StopSensor, New Salem, will receive $25,000 for funding to bring the StopSensor product to market by funding the production of 15 prototype devices and related accessories. These prototypes will be used in field tests and product demonstrations. The units will be tested in a variety of agricultural applications from small farm operations to agronomy centers.
VFM, LLC, Fargo, was awarded $28,500 to defray the costs associated with prototype development, IE parts, wages for software development, alpha/beta testing, patent/trademark research and patent applications for mobile application auto-steer technology.
NDSU Dept of Mechanical Engineering - Dilpreet Bajwa, Fargo, was awarded $24,465 to assist with Masonite PrimeBoard, Inc. of Wahpeton, ND who currently uses wheat straw for making fiber boards. This project will help identify the feasibility of using soy and corn agriculture fibers for manufacturing existing products without compromising the quality and durability characteristics of low density fiber boards. The new product will be green, eco-friendly and qualify for sustainable material credit.
Food First, LLC; Div. of Harvest Fuel Inc., Walhalla, will be the recipient of a $36,000 award to defray the costs used to quantify the impact prebiotics from wheat, oats, barley and flax have on stimulating growth of beneficial bifidobacterium to improve digestive health. The goal of this project is to provide consumers with better information to make informed decisions on a dietary fiber source.
Dakota College at Bottineau, Bottineau, was awarded $11,200 to assist with the costs associated in purchasing a tea compost system, compost tumblers and injection system which will be used to research the effectiveness of compost tea for nutrient management in high tunnel vegetable production.
The following projects were awarded, and are pending funding upon completion of contingencies:
Northern Corn Development Corporation, Fargo, was awarded $100,000 to assist in acquiring accounting, marketing, and legal services. The company will used these resources to develop a business plan and acquire the necessary equity to launch a plant that will target gas currently being flared in the Bakken oil formation. The principle source of the hydrogen captured from the flared gas is used to produce fertilizer.
Amberland Foods, Inc., Harvey, will receive funding of $46,000 to assist in the redevelopment of their website and to create a cross selling/marketing plan for out-of-state customers.
Progressive Nutrient Systems, Fargo, was awarded $75,000 to defray the costs associated to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a distributed modular ammonia synthesis process, and the business plan/economic opportunity for a modular distributed ammonia based system.
The next APUC board hearing will be held November 15th, in Dickinson. Applications for the November meeting must be received by October 1st. Prototype and Technical Assistance grants must be received by September 1st.
APUC is an office within Economic Development and Finance, a division of the North Dakota Department of Commerce. For additional information, please visit www.ndapuc.com.
