Good food is for everyone. Our goal is to expand access to fresh, wholesome food and to reinforce the viability of small farms and businesses that produce and sell them. By informing the public about the unique factors that make these goods special, we improve the economic outlook for the rural communities where they are produced.
Grant Opportunities
Aug 25, 2024
National
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
2025 Applications Deadlines:
First Quarter, September 30, 2024
Second Quarter, December 31, 2024
Third Quarter, March 31, 2025
Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2025
What kind of funding is available?
Grants are available to provide technical assistance to rural micro-entrepreneurs or microenterprises, up to $100,000 annually. Funding at the requested level is not guaranteed, and at least 15 percent matching funds are required.
Loans of $50,000 to $500,000 may be used for establishing a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund managed by the Microenterprise Development Organization. Total aggregate debt is capped at $2.5 million.
Eligibilty:
The following are eligible to be a Microenterprise Development Organization:
Nonprofits.
Federally-recognized tribes.
Institutions of higher education.
What funds can be used for:
Microlenders may make microloans for qualified business activities and expenses including, but not limited to:
Working capital.
Debt refinancing.
Purchasing equipment and supplies.
Improving real estate.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-microentrepreneur-assistance-program
Aug 21, 2024
Northeast
Applications Due: Nov 12, 2024
Stated Purpose:
Northeast SARE offers grants to farmers to explore new concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques. Farmer Grant projects address issues that affect farming with long-term sustainability in mind.
Competitive proposals explore new ideas and techniques or apply known ideas in new ways or with new communities. Reviewers look to fund projects that are well-designed to meet proposed objectives and promise the greatest benefit to farming communities.
Eligibilty:
The Farmer Grant program is open to all commercial farm business owners and farm employees in the Northeast region. This grant program accepts all types and scales of farms - large or small scale, organic or conventional, urban or rural, full- or part-time, etc.
To be eligible, you must meet the U.S. Census of Agriculture definition of a Farm: “Any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year.” For more information see, “Northeast SARE’s Definition of Farm”.
Funding available and timeline:
Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending upon a project’s complexity and duration. Projects that are more complex include multi-farm collaboration, intensive education for other farmers and/or service providers, and/or replicated research over multiple years or locations. Simpler, straightforward proposals with modest budgets are equally encouraged.
Applicants should only request the amount of funding that is clearly necessary for the success of their project.
What funds can be used for:
Funds can be used to conduct the research project including paying farmers for their time, for project-related materials, for project costs like consulting fees or soil tests, and any communications or outreach expenses associated with telling others about project results.
https://northeast.sare.org/grants/get-a-grant/farmer-grant-program/
May 21, 2024
Northeast
Timeline:
Application Closes: May 31, 2024
Stated Purpose:
Farmers’ Market Grants may be used to support participating farmers, market enhancements, marketing efforts and/or programs to support disadvantaged communities or improve access to fresh, local food. Note that these grants are intended for public markets where multiple farms sell products, not for individual farm markets.
Eligibilty:
Farmers' markets must be within Farm Credit East’s eight-state territory: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Preference will be given to worthy applicants who are seeking support for the first time. Special consideration will also be given to markets serving underserved communities with limited access to fresh, local food.
Awards will be made at the sole discretion of Farm Credit East.
https://www.farmcrediteast.com/farmersmarket
May 16, 2024
New York
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Timeline:
Application Opening: May 15, 2024
Application Closes: June 28, 2024
Infrastructure Grants: Applications may be submitted for projects ranging from $100,000 - $3,000,000. Applications must include match funds of 50% or 25% for historically underserved groups.
Equipment Only Grants: Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $10,000 - $100,000. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants.
Stated Purpose:
The Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) is the administrator for a portion of New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program with a focus on enhancing, growing and improving the mid-channel of the food supply chain.
The RFSI program will make infrastructure awards to businesses and organizations operating in the middle-of-the-supply chain. Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York markets. Competitive project applications must benefit multiple producers and multiple markets, and may be collaborative applications.
The grant program is to fund projects that expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York and regional markets. Competitive project applications will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.
Two grant opportunities will be available for New York agricultural businesses:
Infrastructure Grants: This competitive opportunity is focused on funding infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally produced agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Applications may be submitted for projects ranging from $100,000 - $3,000,000. Applications must include match funds of 50% or 25% for historically underserved groups.
Equipment-Only Grants: This competitive opportunity is focused on funding equipment for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $10,000 - $100,000. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants.
https://ffgf.smapply.us/
April 29, 2024
North Carolina
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Timeline:
Infrastructure and Equipment Only Application Opening: May 1, 2024
Infrastructure and Equipment Only Application Closes: June 15, 2024
State Award Range for Infrastructure Grants: $100,000- $2,000,000
State Award Range for Equipment Only Grants: $10,000-$100,000
Stated Purpose:
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) is proud to introduce the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI), an initiative designed to enhance the robustness and sustainability of North Carolina's food supply chain. Funded in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the RFSI program aims to empower North Carolina's agricultural producers by strengthening the middle segments of the food supply chain.
The RFSI program seeks to build resilience within local and regional food systems, fostering economic growth and creating new opportunities for North Carolina's farmers and food producers. By providing targeted support for infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades, the RFSI program will enhance processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage capabilities across the state in the form of grants for projects that meet these goals.
April 10, 2024
Maine
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
Timeline:
Deadline April 29, 2024
June 2024 Maine DACF awards infrastructure project sub-award contracts
Program Overview
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA AMS) is partnering with state Departments of Agriculture to invest in food supply chain resilience, market access, and value-added processing infrastructure through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).
The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) is to build resilience across Maine’s middle of the food supply chain. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of Maine-produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
The Maine Department of Agriculture (DACF) will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive sub-award investments in middle of the supply chain infrastructure (Infrastructure Grants) to domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. Projects will begin no earlier than July 1, 2024 and must be completed by May 24, 2027.
April 16, 2024
Maryland
SMADC Southern Maryland Farmer Mini-Grant Program
Timeline:
Deadline May 8, 2024
Grant Recipients notified in early June 2024
Stated Purpose:
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is offering another round of farmer mini grants. The Farmer Mini-Grant program was established by SMADC in 2016 based on feedback heard from the farming community about their needs. SMADC’s mission is to support farms and the future of agriculture in Southern Maryland, and we are committed to expanding and promoting a viable market-driven, sustainable, and profitable agricultural farming community.
This program is designed to assist both new and beginning farmers with small start-up projects and to assist experienced farmers who are looking to diversify or expand a current agriculture project.
The projects should be simple in scope and must be successfully completed within one year. SMADC awards will be up to $3,000 per applicant and are a one-to-one dollar match by the farmer.
Both Urban and Rural farms are encouraged to apply.
March 18, 2024
California
California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program
Timeline:
Deadline April 4
Winners Announced May/June
Program Overview
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program will award competitive grants to support projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.
Funding Priorities: The California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program will award additional points during the grant review process for projects that:
• Engage students from underserved communities • Include small to midsize California food producers
• Include veteran California food producers, socially disadvantaged California food producers, and/or limited-resource farm households in California.
• Include California food producers who utilize climate smart agriculture practices; climate smart agriculture production systems like certified organic or transitioning to certified organic; or other regenerative strategies that increase resilience to climate change, improve the health of communities and soil, protect water and air quality, increase biodiversity, and help store carbon in the soil.
March 14, 2024
National
The Greenhouse Accelerator Program Juntos Crecemos Edition
Timeline:
Applications Open March 6
Applications Close May 6
Winners Announced Nov 2024
Program Overview
The Greenhouse Accelerator Program Juntos Crecemos Edition is a five-month, mentor-guided program to support the acceleration of emerging Hispanic food and beverages innovations that are transforming the way consumers live their lives.
This edition is an extension of the initial Greenhouse Accelerator program launched in 2018, in collaboration with PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos, part of PepsiCo’s Pep+ transformation agenda, designed to provide short and long-term support to Hispanic small businesses.
March 5, 2024
New York
Equitable Access to Healthy Food Grants
Proposal Deadline:
Letter of Intent due: October 9th
Applications due: November 6th
Program Overview
In 2024, The Schenectady Foundation anticipates investing $2 million into programs that have promise to contribute to significant impacts in the community. This will include projects that address the goals of the Equitable Access to Healthy Food (EAT Healthy Food) Initiative, Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, as well as emerging needs.
The Foundation’s role is as a catalyst for community change. Of particular interest are projects – large or small – where an injection of funding and engagement can more quickly and significantly deliver impact in the specific areas of focus.
The Schenectady Foundation believes in supporting projects that have the potential to be transformative – leading to marked change in people, organizations, neighborhoods, and the broader community. The Foundation prioritizes its involvement in transformational projects and movements.
As in the past, the 2024 grants will place a strong emphasis on projects that demonstrate the potential to achieve measurable outcomes. This year’s application forms will specifically guide applicants through the process of determining the impact that will be achieved by the project.
The Foundation has a two-step online grant process. The first required submission is a brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) form which provides a general overview of the proposed project and its associated outcomes. Upon review and approval of an LOI, applicants will be given access to the full grant application.
Please review The Schenectady Foundation’s Criteria and Eligibility prior to beginning an application, as the information contained therein is used to guide grant decisions of the Foundation’s Distribution Committee.
Feb 28, 2024
New Jersey
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants
Proposal Deadline March 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. EST
Program Overview
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) is inviting applications for funding opportunities under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The NJDA was allotted a total of $3,437,002 in competitive grant funding for projects that aim to enhance the capacity of aggregating, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distributing locally and regionally produced food products. These include specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products. Ineligible products include meat and poultry, wild-caught seafood, exclusively animal feed and forage products, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, or dietary supplements.
Achieving the promise of local farming to feed, educate, and sustain healthy communities
Changing the food system is possible.
Our leadership team bring years of experience in food marketing, logistics, nonprofit management and fundraising to the table.
Terroir tells the story.
True Eats’ goal is to expand access to locally produced foods by generating greater awareness about the unique factors that make them special. Drawing on the time-tested experience of wine, with its use of the concept of terroir to define and differentiate an appellation’s strengths for consumers, True Eats will identify and promote the taste, nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits of small farm products to develop new levels of understanding and appreciation for them.