January 9, 2020 | Montpelier, VT - The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) welcomes applications from Vermont agricultural and forestry businesses for Trade Show Assistance Grants. The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative has set aside $30,000 to be distributed on a first come first serve basis to support yearly marketing plans for Vermont businesses with reimbursement directly to Vermont businesses to exhibit at trade shows outside of Vermont.
VAAFM Secretary Anson Tebbetts said, “Tradeshow Assistance Grants provide valuable funds to businesses ready to increase their exposure to markets outside of Vermont, supporting our state’s agriculture and forestry economy.”
Funding may be used for the following approved expenses: travel; marketing assets and booth design; registration fees; booth fees; furnishings; utilities; shipping/freight; other marketing costs. This grant may fund up to five (5) years of attendance at a single trade show. Applicants may include up to five (5) trade shows in their yearly marketing plan, requesting between $2,000 - $5,000 in eligible reimbursements for the year.
Eligible applicants are Vermont-based agricultural and forestry businesses that meet the following criteria: (1) 50% or more of their product ingredients/components are from Vermont and (2) Business has three or more wholesale accounts, and (3) Business meets one of the two following criteria: (a) Business is registered with the Vermont Secretary of State and has been in business for over one (1) year with an address indicating that they perform substantial functions in Vermont, and/or (b) The product, if substantially transformed, was made in Vermont.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed—and funds will be distributed—to all eligible applicants in the order in which they were received until funds are depleted. The first review will include all applications submitted by January 31, 2020. Following that, reviews will be conducted quarterly.
For more information about this grant and the Request for Applications, please visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/tradeshow
For questions regarding this grant opportunity, please contact:
Kathryn Donovan
802-585-4571