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Annual Calendar of Funding Opportunities

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Programs Open Year-Round

APPLICATION OPEN

PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION

CONTACT

Year-round

Farmstead Best Management Practices (BMP) Program

Technical and financial assistance for engineered conservation practices on Vermont farms.

Jenn LaValley
Jenn.LaValley@vermont.gov
802-828-2431

Year-round

Pasture and Surface Water Fencing (PSWF) Program

Technical and financial assistance for pasture management and livestock exclusion from surface water on Vermont farms

Mary Montour
Mary.Montour@vermont.gov
802-461-6087

Year-round

Grassed Waterway and Filter Strip (GWFS) Program 

Technical and financial assistance for implementing buffers and seeding down critical areas on Vermont farms

Sonia Howlett
Sonia.Howlett@vermont.gov
802-522-4655

Year-round

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) 

Implementation costs of vegetated buffers and rental payments for maintained buffers on Vermont agricultural land

Ben Gabos
Ben.Gabos@Vermont.gov
802-461-3814

Phil Wilson
Phillip.Wilson@vermont.gov
802-505-5378

Upcoming Funding Opportunities

APPLICATION OPEN

PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION

CONTACT

December 2022 – February 2023

Dairy Farm Innovation & Alternative Management Grant

Grants for community and climate forward farm production and business operation models Laura Ginsburg
Laura.Ginsburg@vermont.gov
802-522-2252
December 2022 – February 2023 

Organic On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant

Grants for organic dairy farmers to purchase equipment and related costs to improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies Ben Eldredge
Ben.Eldredge@vermont.gov
802-522-9478 
January – March 2023

Dairy Processing Research & Development Innovation Grant

Grants for long-term business investments that increase processor business consumer appeal and marketability of value-added product  

Kathryn Donovan
Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov
802-585-4571 

January – May 2023

Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant: Tiers 1 & 2

Tiered grants for specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity of regionally produced milk. Tiers 1 & 2 have a two-phase application

Laura Ginsburg
Laura.Ginsburg@vermont.gov
802-522-2252

Kathryn Donovan
Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov
802-585-4571 

January

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Grants for collaborative projects to benefit multiple fruit, vegetable, honey, maple, hops, Christmas tree, or nursery crop producers or organizations

Madison Berry
AGR.SpecialtyCrops@vermont.gov
802-622-4626

February

Community Supported Agriculture Grant

Reimbursement for 80% of the cost of community supported agriculture (CSA) shares for early childcare providers Gina Clithero
Gina.Clithero@vermont.gov
802-585-6225
March

Farm to School Vision Grant

Grants to help schools, childcare providers and afterschool programs engage with food system issues through youth education and empowerment

Gina Clithero
Gina.Clithero@vermont.gov
802-585-6225

March

Dairy Farm Cohort Technical Assistance Program

Service providers will be able to submit proposals to develop cohorts of dairy farmers to address relevant areas of technical assistance

Laura Ginsburg
Laura.Ginsburg@vermont.gov
802-522-2252

March

Produce Safety Improvement Grants

Grants to help produce growers implement on-farm food safety practices, transition to Produce Safety Rule compliance, and meet market demands for on-farm food safety. Madison Berry
Madison.Berry@vermont.gov
802-622-4626
April

Farm to Institution Market Development Grants

Grants to help farm and food producers access local institutional markets Gina Clithero
Gina.Clithero@vermont.gov
802-585-6225
April - June

Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant

Grants for established value-added dairy processors and producer associations to access professional marketing and branding services. Kathryn Donovan
Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov
802-585-4571 
May

Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) Program

Per-acre payments for conservation practices on Vermont farms and support for one-time water quality educational events or trainings

Sonia Howlett
Sonia.Howlett@vermont.gov
802-522-4655

June 2023

Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant: Tier 3

Tiered grants for specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity of regionally produced milk

Ben Eldredge
Ben.Eldredge@vermont.gov
802-522-9478 

Early Summer 2023

Dairy Packaging Innovation Grant

Grants to support modernized packaging initiatives that prioritize sustainability, scalability, and marketability Kathryn Donovan
Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov
802-585-4571 
Fall 2023

On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant

Grants to provide dairy farmers with funds that support the purchase and supplies to improve milk storage, handling and energy efficiencies Ben Eldredge
Ben.Eldredge@vermont.gov
802-522-9478 
August - 2022 only

Vermont Organic Dairy Farm Transition Support Grant

Grants that support dairy farmers impacted by contract cancellations from Horizon Organic Laura Ginsburg
Laura.Ginsburg@vermont.gov
802-522-2252
August

Working Lands Enterprise Fund Service Provider Grants & Contracts

Grants and contracts for service providers that support agriculture and forestry businesses

Clare Salerno
Working.Lands@vermont.gov
802-917-2637 

Fall - Biennial

Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program

Grants for water quality initiatives by supporting farmers with education and outreach, technical assistance, identifying and implementing best management practices, planning, and more

Mary Montour
Sonia.Howlett@vermont.gov
802-461-6087

September

Capital Equipment Assistance Program (CEAP)

Purchase of innovative farm equipment that aids in the reduction of runoff Sonia Howlett
Sonia.Howlett@vermont.gov
802-522-4655
September/October

Working Lands Enterprise Fund Business Grants

Grants to support agriculture and forestry projects

Clare Salerno
Working.Lands@vermont.gov
802-917-2637 

September/October

Organic Certification Cost Share Program

Partial reimbursement of direct costs for organic certification Terry Smith
Terry.Smith@vermont.gov
802-828-5667
October

Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant

Grants to help schools and early childhood organizations develop farm to school programs or farm to early childhood programs

Gina Clithero
Gina.Clithero@vermont.gov
802-585-6225

November

Agricultural Fairs & Field Days Capital Grants and Operational Stipends

Grants for 20-year capital improvements and operational stipends for fairs and field days Drew Watson
Andrew.Watson@vermont.gov
802-636-7793
November – 2022 only

Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant

Grants to purchase food from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers and distribute to the community Julia Scheier
Julia.Scheier@vermont.gov
802-522-7042
December

Trade Show Assistance Grants

Grants to help Vermont food and forestry businesses identify, plan, exhibit, and sell their Vermont products at out-of-state and international trade shows Kristen Brassard
Kristen.Brassard@vermont.gov
802-522-3742

Funding opportunities are subject to change. Page last updated February 2023.

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