By Kristen Wirkkala, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets - January 2022
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets welcomes applications from Vermont agricultural and forestry businesses for Trade Show Assistance Grants. These grants provide businesses with funds to identify, plan, exhibit, and sell their Vermont products at out-of-state trade or virtual shows targeting out-of-state buyers during 2022. These matching grants can mitigate the financial risks associated with exhibiting at trade shows, which provide opportunities to network with wholesale buyers.
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative has set aside $30,000 to be selected through a competitive process and will support Vermont businesses to execute their yearly marketing plans through financial assistance with tradeshow expenses.
Funding may be used to reimburse up to 50% 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 years of attendance at a single trade show. Applicants may include up to five 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) Business is registered with the Vermont Secretary of State and has been in business for over one year with an address indicating that they perform substantial functions in Vermont; (2) Business has three or more wholesale accounts; (3) Business meets one of the following two criteria: (i) 50% or more of their product ingredients/components are from Vermont; (ii) The product, if substantially transformed, was transformed in Vermont.
The Request for Applications (RFA) for this opportunity will be released later this month. Visit https://agriculture.vermont.gov/grants/tradeshow for more information.
For questions regarding this grant opportunity, please contact Kristen Wirkkala at kristen.wirkkala@vermont.gov