Sep 20, 2017

Grants available in Vermont for agricultural purposes

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is making available over $1 milion in grants for the FY18 grant cycle. Funding will be available through the following grant programs:

The Working Lands Enterprise Board offers over $750,000 in available grant funding for the fiscal 2018 program year. Eligible Vermont agriculture and forest sector businesses may submit applications beginning Oct. 3. The application period for service providers will open on Oct. 31.  This year, there will be two separate categories within the Service Provider Investment area. Details of each investment area will be announced upon release of the Request for Applications. Working Lands grant applications involve a two-step process: an initial letter of intent and, if selected, submission of a full application.  Grants are for 18 months and are typically tendered in early spring.

The investment areas are as follows:

1. Business Investments

Eligible applicants may include loggers, farmers and manufacturers doing business in Vermont who utilize Vermont agricultural or forestry products, and other businesses such as processors and distributors that support the growth of farm and forest sector businesses. Grant funds can be used for projects that will take your business to the next level, including equipment, infrastructure and marketing.

2. Service Provider Investments

This year the Service Provider Investments will contain two categories: a smaller funding pool for regional groups, research and development, and/or pilot programs; and a larger, multi-year funding pool for fundamental working lands services. Projects may include workforce training, marketing, or market research, business planning, or other activities that support the growth and viability of farm and forest sector businesses. Most service providers are non-profits, but some for-profit projects may also be a good fit for this category.

FY18 Recorded Informational Videos will be posted online on Oct. 3 for 24/7 viewing at http://workinglands.vermont.gov/apply/rfp.

For additional information email Noelle Sevoian at [email protected]; call 802-585-9072; or visit http://vermontworkinglands.com.

Tradeshow Assistance Grants

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is making available $30,000 in a third year of funding for Trade Show Assistance Grants to assist Vermont producers in connecting with new markets and buyers to exhibit at out-of-state trade shows. The application period for the FY2018 Trade Show Assistance Grants will open Nov. 1 and funding will be allocated on a first come first serve basis until funds are depleted. Funding for this program has been made available by the Working Lands Enterprise Board, and all grantees will be expected to contribute a 1:1 match. This year’s grants will be available to out-of-state trade show exhibitors and requests will be granted for $1,000 to $2,500.

Funds may be used to assist with the cost of marketing assets, booth design, freight, registration, as well as other eligible costs. Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to, Vermont based agriculture and forestry businesses attending out-of-state trade shows. To date, AAFM has made grants to over 60 businesses to attend 21 different trade shows in 14 different states, with grantees projecting more than $2 million in total annual sales attributable to exhibiting at these trade shows.

For additional information email Lauren Masseria at [email protected]; call 802-505-5413; or visit: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/domestic_export/trade_show_grant_application

Farm to School Grant Program

The Vermont Farm to School Grant Program will release its Request for Applications (RFA) for the 2018 grant round on Oct. 2. $213,000 will be available for schools to invest in a farm to school program. The Vermont Farm to School Grant Program works to improve nutrition among Vermont’s children by connecting food producers to their local schools, as well as providing enriched educational experiences and curricula. The grant enables Vermont schools to engage students in their local food system by incorporating local food and farm education into their cafeterias, classrooms and communities.

On Oct. 11 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets will host a webinar for all potential Vermont Farm to School Grant applicants. The webinar will cover all the basics of the request for applications. There will be time to ask questions during this interactive webinar. If you are interested in joining in on the webinar, a registration link will be included in the RFA. The webinar will be also recorded and posted on the Vermont Farm to School Program webpage.

For additional information email Ali Zipparo at [email protected]; call 802-505-1822; or visit: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/producer_partner_resources/funding_opportunities/vaafm_funding/farm_to_school

Vermont Produce Safety Improvement Grant Program

This is the first round of a two-round grant opportunity.  Each round will provide over $74,000 in available grant funding. These grants will be for Vermont farms with average annual produce sales of greater than $25,000 for produce safety improvements which help prevent or reduce produce safety risks on farms growing “covered produce,” (as defined by the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, with average annual produce sales of greater than $25,000. The application period for the first round of funding will open in mid-November, 2017, and will be announced on the Vermont Produce Program webpage http://agriculture.vermont.gov/produceprogram.  The second round of grants will open in June 2018 (date TBD).

For additional information email Tucker Diego at [email protected] or call 802-828-2433.

Where to Apply

All applications for these grants are tendered through our Grants Management System (GMS) at http://agriculturegrants.vermont.gov. Each grant program will be listed as a “Funding Opportunity.” Applicants must first register in the GMS prior to submitting an application for grant funding.