Active Grants
These are the federal or state grants of interest currently open as of August 15, 2023. Links to program information are included, but feel free to reach out to KCARD at (859) 550-3972 or kcard@kcard.info for more information as well.
Deadline: Quarterly
Funding Amount: Up to 15% reimbursement can be earned on eligible local food purchases.
Eligibility: Kentucky Proud restaurants, caterers, schools and other food service participants that source and support local farms
Deadline: Last Friday of each month
Eligibility: For profit entities/businesses and nonprofit entities
Eligible Uses: Projects must benefit multiple producers as an investment in Kentucky Agriculture
Deadline: September 15, 2023
Funding Amount: There is no dollar amount limit; however, the average grant amount over the last four years has been $29,000.
Eligibility: Business entities that are involved in promoting the betterment of the U.S. sheep industry, including:
LLCs, partnerships, cooperatives
Indian Tribes
For-Profit Entities
Not-For-Profit Entities
Eligible Uses: The program focuses on improvement of infrastructure, business practices, resource development and development of innovative approaches to serve long-term problems. Project funds can be used for supplies, labor, and farm equipment rental used for the project, etc.
Deadline: September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023
Funding Amount:
Renewable Energy System Grants: $2,500 to
$1 millionEnergy Efficiency Grants: $1,500 to $500,000
Eligibility:
Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations.
Small businesses in eligible rural areas.
Eligible Uses: The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Applications for this program are accepted year-round at your local office.
Deadline: October 1, December 1, 2023
Funding Amount: up to $5,000
Eligibility: Kentucky farm with sales between $1,000 - $250,000 in the previous two years
Eligible Uses: Aquaculture/Aquaponics, Certified Organic Agriculture, Value-Added Enterprise, Food-Insecure Area Production, Agroforestry, Farmer Education Assistance
Kentucky State University | Small-Scale Farm Grant Program (kysu.edu)
Deadline: October 16, 2023
Funding Amount: up to $30,000; no match is required
Eligibility: Dairy businesses that are licensed and based in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Puerto Rico
Eligible Uses: Requests for funds should involve one or more of the following:
Leveraging the experience and judgment of reputable industry experts to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed new enterprise, business/marketing approach, process, or major investment
Increasing the applicant's working knowledge of their existing business and/or future enterprise
Gaining a certification, credit, and/or educational experience that improves the competitiveness of the business or its workforce
Utilizing legal services to strengthen the business structure or succession plan
Dairy Business Planning Grant - Open | Value-Added Dairy (tennessee.edu)
Deadline: October 16, 2023
Funding Amount: up to $300,000; 25% cash match required
Eligibility: Existing licensed dairy businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Puerto Rico that is already producing or plans to produce value-added dairy products
Eligible Uses: Purchase of processing equipment that will support new processes and facilitate diversification or increased efficiency in production of finished dairy products; may also apply for consultant services (for marketing etc.), installation costs, and supplies that support the project
Specialty Processing Equipment Grant - Open | Value-Added Dairy (tennessee.edu)
Deadline: October 30, 2023
Funding Amount:
Planning Projects: up to $35,000
Community Food Projects: $125,000 - $400,000
Eligibility: Public food program service providers; Tribal organizations; Private nonprofit entities
Eligible Uses: CFP examples include, but are not limited to, community gardens with market stands, value chain projects, food hubs, farmers’ markets, farm-to-institutions projects, and marketing & consumer cooperatives. All projects must involve consumers with low incomes. Planning projects may consist of beginning-stage research and development of these projects.
Deadline: All events must take place before November 19, 2023. Applications for Farm to Fork events are due 30 days before the event.
Funding Amount: reimburses 50% (up to $750) of the event's eligible Kentucky Proud products and associated promotional expenditures.
Eligibility: Organizations hosting an event to highlight local farms, farmers, producers, and Kentucky Proud products
Eligible Uses: Meal ingredients and items with Kentucky Direct-Farm Impact; Marketing and promotional costs cannot exceed 50% of the total reimbursement.
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Funding Amount: Percentage based on eligible category
Eligibility: Specialty crop production that has paid eligible certification expenses
Eligible Uses: Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs: Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification; Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan; Food safety certification; Certification upload fees; Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water; Training.
Applications can be submitted to the Farm Service Agency office at a local USDA Service Center.
The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program | Farmers.gov