Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Farm to Institution Market Development Grant helps local food producers and processors sell more local food to local institutions.
Projects will increase sales for local producers and increase the amount of local food served at schools, early childhood programs, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, or other local institutions.
Vermont farm or food businesses, Vermont producer groups or associations, and supply chain facilitators (non-profits, economic development authorities, food hubs, food brokers, etc.) are eligible to apply.
Awards range from $10,000 - $30,000. Applications are due by November 29th. Please register for an optional applicant webinar on Thursday October 26th at 10am to learn more about this grant opportunity.
Apply for a Market Development Grant
NE-DBIC Awarded $7 Million to Support Regional Dairy
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center has been awarded $7,053,333 by the USDA to continue their support of and investment in regional dairy resiliency.
This is the fifth and final round of funding allocated in the 2018 Farm Bill. To date, NE-DBIC has awarded more than 210 grants totaling over $11.18 million directly to dairy businesses.
This new $7 million will allow NE-DBIC to continue their direct support of dairy farmers and processors across the region, with a focus on dairy farm modernization, marketing and branding, processor and packaging innovation, investment in supply chain resources, and more.
Read the full announcement
WLEI Business Enhancement Grant Now Open
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is now accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant. Vermont-based farm, food, and forest sector businesses may apply for grants from $15,000 - $50,000.
The application is open now through November 20th. Projects eligible for funding may relate to one or more of the following categories: market development, research and development,
infrastructure development, or workforce training and development.
Applicants will be notified of awards in early January 2024. The estimated project start date is February 2024.
Application deadline: November 20th
Mexican Consulate Visit and Farm & Food Workers Relief Program
The Addison County Farmworkers' Coalition has organized a visit by the Mexican Consulate in Middlebury next Saturday, October 28th.
The visit will assist Mexican citizens living and working in Vermont with passports, legal documents, and more.
The visit is also an opportunity to complete applications for the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program, where eligible frontline farm workers and meatpacking workers can apply for a one-time $600 pandemic relief payment.
Make a consulate appointment
Info Session: Pasture, Rangeland, & Forest Crop Insurance
Please join the White River Natural Resources Conservation District for a free, online informational session on Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) crop insurance on October 26th at 11:30am.
PRF is a year-round low-rainfall protection program with a sign-up deadline of December 1st. Coverage is based on historic rainfall averages.
If you can't attend, a recording of the session will be posted on the White River NRCD website.
Register here
View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets