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Funding Opportunity Calendar

Programs Open Year-Round

APPLICATION OPENS

PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION

CONTACT

Year-round

Farmstead Best Management Practices (BMP) Program

Technical and financial assistance for engineered conservation practices on Vermont farms

Emma Redel
Emma.Redel@vermont.gov
802-261-5628

Ellen Friedrich
Ellen.Friedrich@vermont.gov
802-261-5629

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 OPENS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTACT
January 2024

Agriculture Development Grants for Meat and Produce

Grants for meat and produce producers and processors to fund projects to improve infrastructure, equipment, storage, processing, or training Sarah McIlvennie Sarah.Mcilvennie@vermont.gov 
802-261-5866
January 2024

Working Lands Small Farm Diversification and Transition Grants

Grants to small farms to diversify farm products, transition to another type of farming, process farm products, or develop an accessory on-farm business

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

February

Farm to School and Early Childhood 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
February

Farm to School and Early Childhood 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

April

Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant

Grants for established value-added dairy processors and producer associations to access professional marketing and branding services Ali Boochever
Ali.Boochever@vermont.gov
802-261-5740 
April 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 
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

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 
July 2023

Vermont Organic Dairy Relief Program

Grants to eligible organic dairy farms that shipped or sold organic milk in 2022

Terry Smith
Terry.Smith@vermont.gov
802-828-5667

August

Organic Certification Cost Share Program

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

Working Lands Producer Association Grants

Grants to non-profit associations of farm, forest, or local food businesses for market research and development, leadership or board development, or strategic planning Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637
August

Working Lands Service Provider Grants

Grants to organizations that provide services to farm and forest businesses for business and technical assistance Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637
Fall – Biennial

Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Program

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

Mary Montour
Mary.Montour@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

Working Lands Service Provider Contracts

Contracts to organizations that provide services for farm and forest businesses to build executive business and marketing skills Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637
October 2023

Local Food Purchase Assistance

Grants to purchase food from socially disadvantaged farmers and producers and distribute food to underserved communities Julia Scheier
Julia.Scheier@vermont.gov
802-522-7042
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

October

Farm to Institution Market Development Grants

Grants to help farm and food producers access local institutional markets including schools, colleges, hospitals, and prisons Gina Clithero
Gina.Clithero@vermont.gov
802-585-6225
October 2023

Agriculture Development Grants for Maple

Grants for the maple industry to fund production or processing projects that address climate resiliency, operational efficiency, or food safety and quality

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

October

Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant

Grants for dairy farmers to fund a wide range of projects that prioritize long term farm viability and climate/economic resilience Ben Eldredge 
Ben.Eldredge@vermont.gov 
802-522-9478
October

Dairy Farm Cohort TA Program

Service providers will be able to submit contract proposals to develop cohorts of dairy farmers to address relevant areas of technical assistance  Laura Ginsburg 
Laura.Ginsburg@vermont.gov 
802-522-2252 
October

Working Lands Business Enhancement Grants

Grants to farm, forest, or local food businesses for infrastructure, workforce training, or market development Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637
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

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
November 

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 Ali Boochever 
Ali.Boochever@vermont.gov 
802-261-5740  
December

Goat & Sheep Dairy Supply Chain Development Grant

Grants to improve the regional conditions for goat and/or sheep dairy products Kathryn Donovan 
Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov  
802-585-4571  
December

Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant

Grants to support food safety projects including specialized equipment purchase, supplies, food safety training, and certifications Ben Eldredge  
Ben.Eldredge@vermont.gov 
802-522-9478  
Open Now

Trade Show Assistance Grants

Grants to help food and forestry exhibit and sell their Vermont products at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers Kristen Brassard
Kristen.Brassard@vermont.gov
802-522-3742
Open Now

Working Lands ARPA Primary Producer Impact Grants

Grants to farms and logging operations for infrastructure, workforce training, research, or market development Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637
Open Now

Working Lands Supply Chain Impact Grants

Grants to farm, forest, or local food businesses for infrastructure, workforce training, research, or market development projects that will impact other businesses across the supply chain Clare Salerno
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov
802-917-2637

Return to Funding Opportunities: Grants, Loans & Financial Assistance.

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