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Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Are you looking to get a head start on your Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Business Enhancement Grant Application? Free grant project planning assistance is now available for eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Business Enhancement Grant is for farm and forest product businesses, or food businesses that use Vermont-grown products. The Business Enhancement Grant will be open from October 9 – December 10.
The grant project planning assistance involves working with a business advisor from Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program for a few hours to think through what to apply for, review financial statements, and light review of a written grant application. This assistance does not include the business advisor filling out the application for you.
Make sure you’re eligible for the Business Enhancement Grant and get familiar with the application requirements by reviewing the grant webpage. Once you’ve done that, if you want to sign up for grant project planning assistance, email [email protected] or call/text 802-917-2637.
Learn more
Vegetable Workshop at High Meadows Farm
Join UVM Extension and the Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association on September 23 at High Meadows Farm in Putney, VT. Howard Prussak grows a dozen acres of certified organic vegetables in the field and has 30,000 sq. ft. of high tunnels.
Participants will discuss marketing, tour the fields and tunnels, discuss cover crops, and see the wash/pack/storage located in a refurbished barn. Howard will also demonstrate his Tilmor Super-E electric cultivating tractor and describe its performance this past season.
Learn more
Working Lands Grantee Spotlight
As farms diversify and adapt, the opportunity that sheep offer as a multi-purpose animal – dairy, meat, and/or fiber—is an attractive one. Boneyard Farm in Fletcher and Dorset Peak Sheep & Cattle Co. recently started using mobile sheep handling systems bought through Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) grants. A handling system provides valuable time savings for busy shepherds, which makes them a critical factor for farm viability and growth. Check out the latest WLEI blog to learn more about how state dollars spent on farm infrastructure can have positive ripple effects for Vermont’s sheep industry and broader food system.
Read more on the blog
Building Communities Grants
The Building Communities Grants Program offers grants of up to $25,000 for construction and capital improvement projects that strengthen Vermont communities. Eligible applicants include municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and regional economic development groups. Farm, food, and forest businesses may partner with their regional development corporation to pursue projects that support local economic development. Interested businesses should contact their regional development corporation to get started.
Apply by September 30
Marketing Assistance for Farmers
NOFA-VT has funding available for one-on-one marketing technical assistance for Vermont farmers selling through at least one direct-to-consumer market channel. Support can be tailored to your farm’s needs and may include photography, web updates, online ordering systems, brand development, messaging and storytelling, and analysis of cost of sales and pricing strategies by market channel. If you are interested in marketing technical assistance, contact [email protected], call 802-434-7154, or fill out the simple application.
Apply now
October
10/21 – Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant application due
November
11/5 – Service Provider & Producer Association Grant application due
11/12 – Farm to School Community Supported Agriculture Grant application due
December
12/10 – Business Enhancement Grant application due
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View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov
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