Grants for Small businesses - Agriculture

The Rural program is dedicated to enhancing surface transportation infrastructure within rural communities, with $780 million allocated for this purpose. It supports highway, bridge, and tunnel projects that improve freight, safety, and access to agricultural, commercial, energy, or transportation facilities critical to a rural area's economy. This program recognizes the unique challenges faced by smaller communities in accessing funding and aims to support projects that address these needs directly. The submission deadline is May 6, 2024.

This program provides financial support to non-farm businesses in Orange County, particularly those owned by women and BIPOC, to help them grow, hire staff, and make a positive economic impact.

This program provides financial assistance to Virginia farmers and timber owners who suffered losses due to Hurricane Helene, helping them recover from economic disruptions and damage.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is offering Business Builder Subawards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to support small food and farm businesses in selected states and counties, aiming to expand local and regional food markets, increase business acumen, and strengthen food systems in response to COVID-19, with projects to be completed within a year.

This program provides financial support to agricultural producers and cooperatives for developing and marketing value-added products, helping to increase income and expand market opportunities.

This program provides funding to various organizations and entities to enhance direct sales of locally produced agricultural products, improving access to fresh food in communities across the U.S.

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) is seeking project proposals that: (1)   Address one or more of the EMC’s Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions and; (2)   Address natural resource protection issues that are important for California forestlands. The critical monitoring questions are organized under 12 Research Themes. Four prioritized critical questions were determined by vote amongst the current EMC members at the beginning of each calendar year:  Are the FPRs and associated regulations effective in...  Question 1h: managing WLPZs to reduce or minimize potential fire behavior and rate of spread? Question 6c:  managing fuel loads, vegetation patterns and fuel breaks for fire hazard reduction? Question 6d: managing forest structure and stocking standards to promote wildfire resilience? Question 12a: improving overall forest wildfire resilience and the ability of forests to respond to climate change (e.g., in response to drought or bark beetle; reducing plant water stress) and variability, and extreme weather events (evaluate ecosystem functional response to fuel reduction and forest health treatments)? I.       FUNDING AVAILABILITY. Funding available for newly proposed projects is anticipated as follows: $973,392 over three FYs beginning in 2024/25, comprising: $173,232 in FY 2024/25; $375,160 in FY 2025/26; and $425,000 in FY 2025/26. II.     AWARD LIMITATIONS. Applicants requesting more than the stated annual amount available for funding will not be considered. In the case that EMC funding for the full three years is awarded to one new project, project solicitation may not occur in the subsequent two FYs. While the EMC may choose to fund projects that span multiple FYs up to the annual funding cap, the EMC generally prefers to fund multiple research projects annually. Proposers should keep this in mind when developing their project and annual budget requests. Longer-term projects (greater than three years) may re-apply for funding for additional years through the competitive grants process advertised in the EMC’s Request for Proposals. Annual allocations are dependent upon demonstrated progress towards project completion pursuant to the project schedule and workplan.  a.      ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. Eligible projects will test one or more specific FPRs or other rule or regulation under the Board’s jurisdiction and which addresses one or more of the EMC’s Research Themes and Critical Monitoring Questions. Proposed projects must clearly apply to management activities on private timberlands in California. Projects on public land may be eligible for EMC funding provided they clearly apply to the activities and systems that also exist on non-federal timberland. b.      ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS. Eligible applicants are local, state, and federal agencies including federal land management agencies; institutions of higher education; special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports); Native American tribes; private landowners; for-profit entities; and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.

This grant provides funding to dairy processors, associations, packaging manufacturers, and educational institutions in the Northeast to support innovative projects that improve processing and packaging in the dairy industry.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the state of Texas. A total of up to $1,000,000 is available for the Texas CIG competition in FY 2024. All non-Foreign, non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $300,000. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 1, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected]. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by July 25, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 14, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various stakeholders in Montana's specialty crop industry, including organizations, government entities, and academia, to enhance the competitiveness and marketability of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops through innovative projects.

The Specialty Crop Assistance program, administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), provides assistance for eligible expenses related to COVID-19 that benefit the production and distribution of Florida specialty crops. Eligible expenses include Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and facility adjustments for worker and product safety. The program is open to specialty crop growers, processors, and distributors. Funding is provided through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, with a minimum reimbursement of $565.00 and a maximum reimbursement of $300,000.00 over the life of the project. The program has a total fund availability of $2,735,124.99, and applications will be processed on a first come first served basis until funds are depleted. The last day to apply for assistance is September 1, 2025. To apply, organizations must register as a state vendor at www.myfloridamarketplace.com, provide a substitute W9 form to the Florida Department of Financial Services, register or login to the FDACS online portal, complete and upload the HR133 Assistance program application to the FDACS online portal, and upload proof of purchase such as invoices marked 'paid', cancelled checks, or other substantial documentation of costs to be reimbursed. Eligible items for reimbursement include various PPE items and facility adjustments for worker and product safety. For additional questions, applicants can contact Kimberly Murphy at (850) 617-7397 or email [email protected].

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Recovery Reimbursement Grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, aims to support farms, integrators, and allied industries directly impacted by HPAI, particularly those within control or quarantine zones. The program is designed to mitigate financial losses by reimbursing eligible costs related to the outbreak. With five rounds of funding, the latest round focuses on biosecurity enhancement reimbursements up to $25,000 per premises, with a total fund allocation of $2 million. This initiative encourages the implementation or improvement of biosecurity practices to elevate poultry farm and business biosecurity standards, address weaknesses, and decrease HPAI cases. The application deadline for Round Five has been extended to May 2, 2024, with eligible expenses including loss of income, mortgage interest, rent, utility payments, working capital for reopening, and payroll costs among others.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in Idaho for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. Eligible entities include agricultural producers with at least 50% income from agricultural operations and small businesses in rural areas, meeting specific criteria. The program supports a range of projects, including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, wind, and solar energy systems, as well as energy efficiency upgrades. Applications are accepted year-round, with specific deadlines for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

This fellowship provides support, resources, and funding to U.S. entrepreneurs developing scalable solutions in climate, health, and equity, with a focus on historically underrepresented founders.

This program provides financial support to established small businesses in downtown North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to enhance their operations through equipment upgrades, physical space improvements, and e-commerce development.

The Infrastructure Grants, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, aim to enhance the middle of the food supply chain through improved aggregation points, food processing infrastructure, and storage facilities. This grant supports projects that upgrade equipment, facilitate transition to licensed spaces, and expand storage capacities to boost local food production. Priority is given to projects that benefit underserved and veteran farmers, and socially disadvantaged individuals. Funding is prioritized for needs such as food hubs, cooperative developments, and increased cold storage, especially in urban areas.

Federally funded program to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, grapes, horticultural, etc. 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).” Projects must show a benefit to the specialty crop industry. This program is not designed for start-ups or projects that only benefit one operation. Universities, institutions, cooperatives, producers, industry, or community-based organizations may submit a proposal for funding. A review committee will select projects to be included in Tennessee’s state plan. This is a competitive program. Projects must directly impact multiple Tennessee producers. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture seeks to identify and support projects that are forward thinking with a positive, long-lasting impact on Tennessee Agriculture.

The Budget Act of 2022 (Senate Bill 178, Skinner) and Government Code section 12100.140 et seq. established an Export Training program within GO-Biz. The program is one-time funding for competitive grants to service providers to develop or scale export training programs and curricula. Respondents to this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) must demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide such training. The key purpose of this program is to fund export training programming that supports California small business owners, provides access to export services for underserved businesses, advances immigrant integration and supports immigrant entrepreneurs, and includes training programs in languages other than English wherever possible. Additionally, this program may consider funding export training programs that are aimed at developing an export-capable workforce should there be sufficient program funding. Organizations are strongly encouraged to collaborate on applications and to utilize each other's resources effectively. Program Objectives:• Equip new-to-export businesses with comprehensive knowledge of global markets and essential international trade knowledge.• Provide ongoing assistance to current exporters, aiding them in sustaining and broadening their presence in foreign markets.• Cultivate a fresh cohort of businesses eligible for the California State Trade Expansion Program, preparing for participation in export promotion activities, including trade shows.

This grant provides financial assistance to agricultural producers in 14 Texas counties who have experienced water losses due to Mexico's non-compliance with a water treaty, helping them recover from the impacts on their farming operations.