Tag: Grants

Brighter Future Fund: $5,000 Grant Available.

Emily Zobel on

American Farmland Trust is proud to announce the national launch of the 2021 Brighter Future Fund. This year, grants of up to $5,000 are available to help farmers 1) Improve farm viability; 2) Access, transfer, or permanently protect farmland; or 3) Adopt regenerative agricultural practices.

In recognition of the need for greater equity and inclusion for all groups who have been, and still are, marginalized, the Brighter Future Fund will focus on providing resources to farmers who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) during this grant round.

To learn more about the eligibility of applicants and projects, please closely review the grant guidelines. Applications will be reviewed and awarded in the order the applications are received based on eligibility. AFT will continue to receive applications and make awards until available funds are expended.

Visit www.farmland.org/brighter-future to apply today.

USDA Invests More Than 169.9 Million in Specialty Crops Grants

Emily Zobel on
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing $169.9 million for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to fund innovative projects designed to support the expanding specialty crop food sector and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”
The total includes:
  • $72.9 million available as part of the annual Farm Bill funding for the program; and
  • An additional $97 million available as emergency funding for applications under this solicitation. Congress provided this funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, due to COVID-19 impacts to the food system.

Grant project funding awarded as part of pandemic assistance can also go to organizations to assist farmworkers (e.g., for PPE and vaccination costs), projects to fund farmers, food businesses, and other relevant entities to respond to risks and supply chain disruption.

For more information about grant eligibility, visit the SCBGP website.

Maryland Department of Ag SCBGP website

The SCBGP funds are allocated to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value. Interested applicants should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture.  Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 11, 2021. 

Source: https://www.ams.usda.gov/press-release/usda-invests-more-330-million-specialty-crops-grants-incentives-purchase-fruits-and

Emily Zobel,