Read on for how you can apply for new funding opportunities through the USDA.
$700,000 Available to Support New York’s Farmers’ Markets
New York has more than 400 farmers’ markets, 250 farm stands, and 10 mobile markets. New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball has announced that $700,000 in funding available to New York’s markets through the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program.
Grant funding will help farmers strengthen their markets and make local food more accessible to consumers by establishing online sales, improving infrastructure, and enhancing marketing and promotion efforts. Funding for the program was included in this year’s enacted budget and is a part of Governor Hochul’s State of the State commitment to New York’s agricultural industry and increasing the resiliency of the state’s food supply chain following COVID-19.
Money is available for projects that help markets build out infrastructure, including booths and signage, and electronic infrastructure like internet platform development for online sales capabilities. Projects can also include marketing and promotion initiatives for markets across the state, expanding their reach to even more consumers.
Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local municipalities, business improvement districts, local chambers of commerce, and public benefit corporations that currently operate one or more farmers’ markets in New York State.
For more information on the program and how to apply, visit here. The deadline for proposals is 4:00 p.m. on December 14, 2022. Applications for funding must conform to the format provided in the Grants Gateway
$26 Million New York Food for New York Families Program
The US Department of Ag and Markets is now accepting applications for its nearly $26 million New York Food for New York Families program. The program, which is funded through the USDA, will provide a boost to New York farmers, increase communities’ access to local foods, and further enhance the resiliency of New York’s food system.
The main goals of the program are to establish and broaden partnerships between New York farmers/producers, the food distribution community and local food networks to ensure distribution of fresh nutritious foods in rural, remote, and/or underserved areas; improve food access for underserved communities by considering regional challenges; and support local and traditionally disadvantaged farmers/producers by expanding and creating marketing and economic opportunities. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, agricultural cooperatives, tribal organizations, public educational institutions and local or municipal governments.
Applications are due January 18, 2023. Additional information is available here.
Natural Disaster Emergency Loans
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional:
The application deadline is June 12, 2023. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
