Just Announced:
- USDA Farm to School Grant Program
- For schools and others working to implement farm to school programs to improve access to local foods in eligible schools
- USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
- For associations, producer cooperatives, nonprofits, communities engaging in producer-to-consumer direct marketing
Upcoming Funding Opportunities:
The deadline for this program has not been announced yet, but you should begin planning now.
- USDA Value Added Producer Grant
- For producers and producer cooperatives adding value to their agricultural product
Other current funding opportunities
- USDA Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program (NEW)
- For cooperatives or cooperative development centers that serve socially-disadvantaged groups and where a majority of their governing board is comprised of members of socially-disadvantaged groups or at least 75 percent of their membership is comprised of socially-disadvantaged producers. Deadline is July 24, 2012.
- Kentucky Sheep and Goat Council
- The Kentucky Sheep and Goat Council is offering short term, zero-interest operating loans to individuals looking to begin sheep or goat production or who have been in sheep or goat production for less than 5 years. Funds may be used to purchase sheep and/or goats for breeding purposes as well as livestock guardian animals. The Council is also looking to fund special projects that would either increase the supply of sheep and goats in the state or increase consumption of Kentucky-raised goat and sheep products.
- Southern United States Trade Association
- The Southern United States Trade Association provides funds to small business applicants looking to launch new branded exports through the Market Access Program. The program can cover up to 50% of international marketing and promotion expenses, including tradeshow expenses, in-store displays and label changes.
- Kentucky Export Initiative
- The Kentucky Export Initiative provides up to $6,000 through the State Trade and Export Promotion program for small businesses to help with covering costs associated with export activities, including market research, trade shows, translation services, export technical assistance and other items.
- Kentucky Farmers' Markets Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program
- The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund awards grants to local farmers' markets to construct permanent facilities for their markets or expand existing markets. The deadline for applications for the program is June 29, 2012.
- USDA Rural Energy for America Program
- The Rural Energy for America Program offers funds to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption. Funds may be used to purchase or install renewable energy systems, improve the efficiency of your current energy system, or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. The deadline for the grant programs has passed, but the deadline for the loan guarantee applications is June 29.
- USDA Farm Service Agency Loans
- The Farm Service Agency makes or guarantees loans to farmers unable to obtain credit elsewhere. The Farm Service Agency also reserves funds each year to make loans to individuals from socially disadvantaged groups to buy and operate family-size farms. For the purposes of this program, socially disadvantaged groups have been defined as women, Blacks or African Americans, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. Click here for more information or contact your local FSA office.