This week we are featuring the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants, USDA Rural Business Development Grants, and the USDA Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program Grants.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants

Deadline: May 16, 2019
Funding Amounts: Maximum request $600,000; up to $200,000/year for 3 years - large standard grants; up to $100,000/year for 3 years - small standard grants; or less than $50,000 for a simplified 1-year project.
Eligible Entities: Government, Higher Education, Non-profits
Links: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/beginning-farmer-and-rancher-development-program-bfrdp
Overview: USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture offers Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grants to fund collaborative projects designed to help beginning farmers start to farm. The purpose of the program is to provide educational resources, trainings, outreach efforts, and/or mentoring programs. Successful projects bring together community partners that are willing to work together to improve the sustainability of America's next generation of farmers.

Rural Business Development Grants

Deadline:  April 30, 2019  
Funding Amount:  Range from $10,000 to $500,000 with priority given to smaller projects
Eligible Entities:  Towns, communities, state and local governments, 501c3 non-profits, institutions of higher education, and rural cooperatives 
Links:  https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants 
Overview:  Rural Business Development Grants can be used for a wide range of activities including planning, training, technical assistance, acquisition of land, construction, renovation, and equipment. Successful projects should focus on ways to improve rural community economic development. This grant is sometimes a good fit for farmers markets. Contact your local USDA Rural Development Office for more information.

Farmers Market Promotion Program Grants

Deadline: Closed – Indicated to open Spring 2019
Funding Amounts: A minimum of $50,000 up to $500,000 per grant - no match required!
Eligible Entities: Agricultural businesses, agricultural cooperatives, community supported agriculture (CSA) networks, CSA associations, economic development corporations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, producer networks, producer associates, public benefit corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities, and Tribal governments.
Links: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp and https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp/awards
Overview: The Farmers Market Promotion Program provides grants for innovative projects to promote new market opportunities for direct producer-to-consumer sales. The purpose/objectives of the FMPP grant program are "to increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products and to develop new marketing opportunity for farm operations serving local markets by developing, improving, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance." The funds can pay for a broad range of activities including advertising, marketing campaigns, personnel, education, training, outreach, and some equipment. The earlier you start the process, the better application you can prepare! 

Local Food Promotion Program Grants

Deadline: Closed – Indicated to open Spring 2019
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000 per grant - 25% match required!
Eligible Entities: Agricultural businesses, agricultural cooperatives, community supported agriculture (CSA) networks, CSA associations, economic development corporations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, producer networks, producer associates, public benefit corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities, and Tribal governments.
Links: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp and https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp/awards
Overview: The Local Food Promotion Program can be used for planning or working capital to support businesses or organizations that act as an intermediary between producers and consumers as part of the supply chain by aggregating, storing, processing, and/or distributing local food products. 

• Planning Grants are designed to help agricultural businesses and local communities conduct feasibility studies, do market research, and develop business plans to determine the viability of local and regional business enterprises. Planning grants must be completed within an eighteen-month time frame. 

• Implementation Grants are designed to provide technical support and to help expand new local and regional food enterprises and/or to improve and grow the abilities of existing local or regional food enterprises. LFPP grants must be completed in a three-year time frame.