By Clare Salerno, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Applications are open October 18-December 12 for the Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant! Award amounts range from $10,000 - $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement for this grant. If you apply for a project that costs more than the grant amount you are applying for, you must demonstrate that you can pay for the parts of project that grant funds won't cover. Up to $575,000 is available to award.
Farms of any size and sector may apply except for hydroponic, indoor mushroom, indoor marijuana, or aquaculture farms. Maple sap and sugarmaking operations, logging businesses, and sawmills are all eligible. Value-added food and fiber businesses that source at least 50% of raw ingredients grown in Vermont OR are applying for a Working Lands grant to significantly increase use of ingredients grown in Vermont are eligible. Secondary forestry businesses are eligible if at least 50% of the wood they use is grown in the Northeast OR the Working Lands grant project will significantly increase use of wood sourced from the Northeast.
Grant projects can relate to market development, research and development, infrastructure, equipment, and/or workforce training and development. This grant will not fund water quality or soil health equipment and infrastructure projects that are eligible for funding under other state programs.
Applicants should expect to include business financial statements in their application, including a profit & loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Applicants are not required to submit a business plan, but applicants that have a business plan are welcome to submit it.
The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) includes farm and forestry business owners, as well as state employees and service provider organizations who work with agriculture and forestry businesses. WLEB makes the final grant decisions, and Business Enhancement Grant applicants will be notified of awards in late February 2025. Applicants who do not receive a grant are provided with feedback on their application.
For more information, please visit workinglands.vermont.gov/businessgrants or contact Clare Salerno at clare.salerno@vermont.gov or (802) 917-2637.