Feb 18, 2022

GreenStone supports ag with $40,000 in CultivateGrowth Grants

GreenStone is supporting the next generation of agriculture by providing $40,000 to young, beginning, and small farmers through 2022 CultivateGrowth Grants.

Whether applicants are starting a business or taking over a generational farm, the CultivateGrowth Grant is designed to give people the right resources and knowledge to overcome the challenges of today’s highly competitive market. The grant can help prepare all producers for success, and it helps minimize financial and resource barriers often faced by individuals entering the industry.

2022 marks the fifth year GreenStone has dedicated $40,000 to individuals through grant funding. The grant awards up to $1,000 to current customers and up to $500 to non-GreenStone customers.

Grants can be used for a variety of agricultural programs, educational courses, conference fees, consultants, and GreenStone resources like initial tax and accounting services.

“We are invested in the future of agriculture, and the CultivateGrowth Grants are one of the great ways we can help provide that support,” Dave Armstrong, GreenStone president and CEO, said in a news release. “We want to help remove financial barriers and increase educational opportunities so producers can build a solid foundation. Really, the grants provide recipients with a chance to gain valuable knowledge and achieve personal growth.”

To qualify for up to $1,000, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, or farming for less than 10 years, or sustain annual gross sales from agricultural production of less than $250,000, in addition to residing in GreenStone territory in Michigan or northeast Wisconsin. Further details are outlined in the application. Both GreenStone members and qualifying non-members are encouraged to apply.

For more information and to apply, visit www.greenstonefcs.com/grants.

GreenStone Farm Credit Services, based in East Lansing, Michigan, is Michigan and northeast Wisconsin’s largest agricultural lender and one of the country’s largest associations in the Farm Credit System.

A member-owned cooperative, GreenStone owns and manages more than $12 billion in assets and serves over 27,000 members with 35 locations in Michigan and northeast Wisconsin.

More information on GreenStone is available at www.greenstonefcs.com.