Company announces $500,000 in grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries and producer associations. Picture of the Lewis Creek Farm courtesy of VAAFM.
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Company of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) announces $500,000 in grant funds to strengthen Vermont’s specialty crop industries and producer associations. Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture crops (including honey, hops, maple syrup and mushrooms), and nursery crops (including Christmas trees and floriculture).
Two funding opportunities are available. Interested applicants should apply by February 27, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
2022 Vermont Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Grant funds will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by (1) leveraging attempts to industry and endorse specialty crops, (2) helping producers with investigation and progress, (3) expanding availability and entry to specialty crops, or (4) addressing area, regional, and countrywide challenges for producers. Any entity may possibly implement, but tasks ought to gain much more than 1 specialty crop organization, particular person, or corporation.
To use, down load the Ask for for Apps at agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/specialtycrop. Applicants must post a pre-software by February 27, 2022 at 11:59 PM. A evaluation committee will invite the top rated-position assignments to submit entire applications.
Specialty Crop Producer Association Grant
Grant funds will establish or fortify producer associations and cooperatives that provide Vermont specialty crop organizations. Eligible applicants are producer associations, cooperatives, and teams of producers/companies. Services companies that provide producer associations, cooperatives, and teams of producers are also eligible. This funding opportunity is possible many thanks to supplemental federal funding from a COVID-19 associated stimulus invoice.
To utilize, download the Request for Apps at agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/specialtycrop/producer. Applicants to the Specialty Crop Producer Affiliation Grant must apply by February 27, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
VAAFM will conduct an information and facts session webinar for all prospective candidates on January 27th, 2022 at 2:00 PM–3:30 PM. Register for the information session webinar at little bit.ly/2022SCBGPWebinar.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Internet marketing Services (AMS) awards Specialty Crop Block Grants to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. In Vermont, VAAFM administers these money to enhance the competitiveness of Vermont specialty crops. Funds are awarded by way of a aggressive critique method guided by field, nonprofit and govt stakeholders. VAAFM options to award roughly $500,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Plan (SCBGP) resources in 2022 between the two funding opportunities.
January 18, 2022 | Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Marketplaces (VAAFM)
