Working Lands Service Provider & Producer Association Grant Now Open

Submitted by tim on Mon, 09/23/2024 - 06:52

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Grant funds are available through the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) to provide business support services to Vermont agriculture, food, and forestry businesses, and to strengthen Vermont producer associations in these sectors.

The Service Provider & Producer Association Grant has $370,000 available to award to service providers and producer associations.

Service provider grant projects should provide direct or indirect services to support Vermont-based working lands businesses. Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members, or the project can support association governance and operations.

There are two types of award categories:

$10,000-$25,000 awards for pilot projects (a new initiative or one begun in the last 1-2 years) or projects that serve businesses in a specific region of Vermont.
$25,000-$75,000 awards for projects that serve businesses statewide.

There is no match requirement for this grant. Attend an applicant webinar on September 24th at 11am to learn more and ask questions.

Apply by November 7th

Farm to Institution Grant Spotlight: Just Cut Program

Just Cut, as simple as it sounds, is a social enterprise that lightly processes local produce and supplies it to institutional kitchens like hospitals, schools, and university cafeterias across Vermont and western New Hampshire. The Just Cut program is managed by the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) and is based in the Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick, Vermont.

This spring the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) awarded a $27,500 Farm to Institution Market Development Grant to CAE to expand the Just Cut Program to increase farmer sales and add new institutional partners. Earlier this summer, VAAFM staff visited the Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick to see the Just Cut program in action.

Read the story

Renewable Energy Heating Systems for Working Lands Businesses

Grants funds are available to help working lands businesses install new or upgrade existing advanced wood heating (AWH) systems. AWH systems are automated central heating systems that use pellets, chips, or cord wood to provide heat and meet certain high efficiency and low emission requirements.

Grant funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and will reimburse up to 50% of project costs (maximum grant amount of $25,000). Working lands businesses including greenhouses, sugar houses, dairy barns, logging equipment shops, and manufacturing facilities can reduce and stabilize their energy costs while supporting the transition to a more carbon responsible heating fuel with AWH systems.

Learn more & apply

Funding for Businesses Impacted by Flooding

The Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) provides funding to businesses, nonprofits, landlords, and farms that suffered physical damage from the flooding and severe storms this past July.

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.

Apply by November 15th

Grazing & Pasture Management Field Day

Join the Vermont Land Trust on September 25th for pasture walks with Paul Lisai of Sweet Rowen Farmstead and Ben Notterman of Snug Valley Farm!

The pasture walks will focus on infrastructure, new technology, and agronomic practices that Paul and Ben are utilizing to find efficiencies on their farms and to increase pasture resiliency and productivity. Both Paul and Ben are part of a USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant on-farm research project looking at grazing management and soil health outcomes over a 5-year period.

RSVP now!

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

September
9/24 - Service Provider & Producer Association Grant applicant webinar
9/26 - Farm to Institution Market Development Grant applicant webinar

October
10/1 - RFSI Equipment-only Grant deadline
10/23 - Farm to Institution Market Development Grant deadline
10/31 - Innovation in Dairy Processing & Packing Grant deadline

November
11/7 - Service Provider & Producer Association Grant deadline

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