Current Funding Opportunities
DECEMBER
Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant | Deadline: December 7th
Goals: To help Northeast US dairy farmers prioritize long-term farm viability and climate & economic resilience.
Eligibility Factors: Dairy producers, producer associations, and processors may be eligible if they are based in the Northeast US states.
Funding Limitations: Awards will range from $15,000 to $100,000 per awardee. A 25% cash or in-kind match is required. Awardees will receive 50% of grant funds up front, and the remainder in two installments during the project timeline.
Anticipated Timeline: Projects are expected to begin in February. Contract periods will range from 6-12 months.
JANUARY
Discrimination Financial Assistance Program | Deadline: January 13th
Goals: To provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who experienced discrimination by the USDA’s Farm Loan Programs (administered by FSA) prior to January 1, 2021.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible applicants are farmers and ranchers who experienced discrimination in FSA lending programs prior to January 1, 2021, or inherited the FSA debt of someone who experienced discrimination by FSA. Discrimination includes altered or inadequate service based on race, color, national origin or ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, marital status, or disability. For discrimination that occurred after January 1, 2021, or ongoing discrimination, you may contact the Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at (866) 632-9992 or by emailing CR-INFO@usda.gov.
Funding Limitations: There are $2.2 billion available nationwide for this program, and individual payments will be based on number of applicants and degree of discrimination. Award maximum is $500,000, but awards are expected to be much smaller.
Anticipated Timeline: Awards will be made sometime in 2024. Note that any award is likely to be considered taxable income.
Massachusetts Dairy Co-Packing Start-Up Grant | Deadline: January 19th
Goals: To help launch new farm-branded value-added dairy lines for dairy producers and dairy processors in Massachusetts.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible applicants include dairy farmers who produce milk and have sought technical assistance in developing a co-packing business plan, as well as dairy processors who source Massachusetts milk and have developed a co-packing business plan.
Funding Limitations: A total of $130,000 in grant funds is available. Awards will range from $15,000 to $35,000 with a 25% match commitment.
Anticipated Timeline: This is a 6-month grant. We will update this page when we have a more specific timeline.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS, NO DEADLINE
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Goals: To address natural resource concerns by planning and/or installing conservation practices that benefit soil, water, plants, air, and animals.
Eligibility Factors: Agricultural or aquacultural producers across the state are welcome to apply. Additional eligibility requirements may be found by contacting your local NRCS field office. Must complete a conservation plan in conjunction with NRCS before submitting an application.
Funding Limitations: Funding possibilities vary based on project. Get in touch with NRCS to learn more.
Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP)
Goals: To increase access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas through grants, loans, and business assistance.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible businesses include farm stands, grocery & corner stores, farmers’ markets, food hubs, and more. Must expand food access in underserved areas and align with community needs. Eligible applicants likely accept SNAP, HIP, or WIC. For-profits, non-profits, and cooperatives are all eligible. Preference will be given to applicants who have 3 years of operating experience and who have not previously received state funding.
Funding Limitations: Grants available from $5,000 to $25,000. Loans available from $15,000 to $300,000. Funds may be used for capital expenses, real estate, and more.
Farm Credit East FarmStart Program
Goals: To invest in new Northeast agricultural ventures showing promise of success with limited financial resources.
Eligibility Factors: Farmers, forestry producers, fishermen, farm-related service businesses and cooperatives may be eligible if they are in their first three years of business. Candidates are expected to be rural entrepreneurs or cooperatives with very little accumulated net worth and few financial resources. The applicant also must be an independent enterprise and cannot be affiliated with an established operation.
Funding Limitations: This is NOT a grant. This program offers up to $75,000 in credit for agricultural startups who are not generally eligible for conventional lending programs. Access to advisors, business plan services, and financial management software may also be available to participants at free or discounted rates.
Next Steps: Contact your local Farm Credit East office (probably Middleboro) or email farmstart@farmcrediteast.com.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS, NO DEADLINE
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Goals: To address natural resource concerns by planning and/or installing conservation practices that benefit soil, water, plants, air, and animals.
Eligibility Factors: Agricultural or aquacultural producers across the state are welcome to apply. Additional eligibility requirements may be found by contacting your local NRCS field office. Must complete a conservation plan in conjunction with NRCS before submitting an application.
Funding Limitations: Funding possibilities vary based on project. Get in touch with NRCS to learn more.
Farm Credit East FarmStart Program
Goals: To invest in new Northeast agricultural ventures showing promise of success with limited financial resources.
Eligibility Factors: Farmers, forestry producers, fishermen, farm-related service businesses and cooperatives may be eligible if they are in their first three years of business. Candidates are expected to be rural entrepreneurs or cooperatives with very little accumulated net worth and few financial resources. The applicant also must be an independent enterprise and cannot be affiliated with an established operation.
Funding Limitations: This is NOT a grant. This program offers up to $75,000 in credit for agricultural startups who are not generally eligible for conventional lending programs. Access to advisors, business plan services, and financial management software may also be available to participants at free or discounted rates.
Next Steps: Contact your local Farm Credit East office (probably Middleboro) or email farmstart@farmcrediteast.com.
NOVEMBER
Farmers’ Market Sustainability Grant | Deadline: November 29th @ 4pm
Goals: To enhance Massachusetts farmers’ markets through marketing, promotion, consumer education, planning, and infrastructure.
Eligibility Factors: Massachusetts farmers’ markets (as defined here) may be eligible, regardless of proprietorship or legal structure.
Funding Limitations: Awards of up to $10,000 are available. Organizations who operate two or more separate markets may request up to $15,000. This is a reimbursement grant, but there is no match requirement. A total of $100,000 will be distributed.
Anticipated Timeline: Contracts are expected to start in January and projects must be completed by June 30, 2024.
ROLLING APPLICATIONS, NO DEADLINE
Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP)
Goals: To increase access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas through grants, loans, and business assistance.
Eligibility Factors: Eligible businesses include farm stands, grocery & corner stores, farmers’ markets, food hubs, and more. Must expand food access in underserved areas and align with community needs. Eligible applicants likely accept SNAP, HIP, or WIC. For-profits, non-profits, and cooperatives are all eligible. Preference will be given to applicants who have 3 years of operating experience and who have not previously received state funding.
Funding Limitations: Grants available from $5,000 to $25,ooo. Loans available from $15,000 to $300,000. Funds may be used for capital expenses, real estate, and more.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently launched a more comprehensive webpage for federal food systems grant programs. Grants are available at every stage from production & processing to distribution & markets. Find it HERE.
If you represent a funding organization or have knowledge of funding opportunities for farmers and food producers that are not listed here, please contact shickey@semaponline.org.
Additional Assistance & Resources
SEMAP can assist you in your grant application process in several ways. We can review your application once you are ready to submit, we can walk you through it from start-to-finish, and/or we can write a letter of support for your project. If you would like in-depth, start-to-finish assistance, please use this form. If you would like a review or letter of support, please email info@semaponline.org. Keep in mind that, as a small organization, SEMAP will require at least 5 business days of notice ahead of any application deadlines.
We hosted a virtual workshop on grant-writing in Fall 2021. While we specifically looked at the Food Security Infrastructure Grant, some of the lessons learned can be applied to grant-writing broadly, especially for state grant programs. You can view the recording and read our notes.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) hosted a virtual walk-through of most of their recurring grant programs in March 2023. This covers CSAP, AFSIP, FVEP, MEGA, AIP, and more. Watch the recording and read more about all MDAR grant programs. They also provided a short general tips video here.
The list at the top of this page includes only grant programs currently accepting applications, but you can prepare for any grant, any time. Check out our anticipated agricultural grant calendar to plan for the coming year. Then use previous years’ RFRs (linked in the calendar) in combination with our grant funding worksheet to prepare your responses to upcoming grants. Note that you should write applications specifically towards each grant purpose, but can use this as a tool to organize your general thoughts.
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