Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal is now open to businesses, nonprofits, landlords, and farms that suffered physical damage from flooding and severe storms in 2023 and/or 2024.
$7 million is available to provide rapid relief to businesses, farms, and nonprofits that sustained physical damage from the 2024 flooding events. An additional $5 million will be available for ongoing recovery from the 2023 floods. Businesses may be eligible for both 2023 BEGAP funding as well as 2024 BEGAP funding. Separate applications must be submitted for each year's funding, for each physical location.
A minimum of 40% of 2024 BEGAP funds are reserved for applications from agricultural businesses if they apply by November 15th.
Before opening an application, you are encouraged to visit the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program page to learn how the program works and what you need to have on hand before you begin the online application process. Eligibility and grant calculations differ depending on several factors.
If you need assistance submitting your application, reach out to Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation and complete their BEGAP support form.
Learn more about applications for agricultural operations on the BEGAP for Agriculture Operations webpage. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets at 802-828-2430 and press 0.
The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program has grant funds available to support specialized equipment purchases that will strengthen the middle of the food supply chain in Vermont.
Grants funds may be used for eligible equipment purchases that help Vermont farms and food businesses to increase market access, diversify product offerings, and/or increase production quantities.
Awards will range from $30,000 to $100,000, with no match required.
View the Request for Applications, FAQs, and recorded applicant webinar to learn more.
Apply by October 1st
Farmer Disaster Response Meeting
Are you a farmer that is confused about how to get help after a flood or during a drought? Do you have ideas for better disaster response?
Join the Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance for an online farmers’ meeting about flood and disaster response on September 3rd.
The meeting will focus on what to do after a disaster, how to document losses, and what resources are available to farmers in 2024. Then participants can share about their experiences recovering from disasters like last year’s frost and floods, and how they can improve disaster response for the next time.
Register for the meeting
Vermont Neonicotinoid Update: Environmental and Policy Impacts
Join Vermont farmers and Steve Dwinell from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets for a conversation on the environmental impacts of neonicotinoids, the effects of Vermont's ban, and what farmers can expect moving forward.
The meeting will take place on September 4th from 10:30-11:30am at the University of Vermont Middlebury Extension office. The address is 23 Pond Lane, Suite 300 in Middlebury.
Contact the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition with questions.
UVM researchers invite agricultural producers to take a brief survey to help them gather information from about tick bites, prevention practices, and management and on farms.
Survey results will enable them to assess tick problems on farms and design resources for producers to reduce tick encounter risk.
The survey should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Contact Cheryl Sullivan at [email protected] with questions.
Take the survey
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
September
9/5 - New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant deadline
October
10/1 - RFSI Equipment-only Grant deadline
10/31 - Innovation in Dairy Processing & Packing Grant deadline
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View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
Our website address is:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov