Kevin and Jamie Johansen, a Missouri farm couple who recognized the vast labor need in the agriculture community have created a smartphone app called AgButler to connect rural labor to farmers and ranchers. The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) awarded a Value-Added Grant to the Johansens to assist in determining the feasibility of their new mobile application.

MASBDA makes capital available to Missouri farmers, particularly independent producers, agribusinesses and small businesses at competitive interest rates on a scale to make a major impact. They offer a wide variety of grants, loans, loan guarantees and tax credits.

The Missouri Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program provides grants for projects that add value to Missouri agricultural products and aid the economy of a rural community. Grant applications will be considered for value-added agricultural business concepts that lead to and result in development, processing and marketing of new or expanded uses or technologies for agricultural products; and foster agricultural economic development in Missouri’s rural communities.