The Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program provides matching funds to Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments, and/or agricultural non-profit organizations for projects that directly impact and/or foster agricultural viability.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants
Deadline: 02/16/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Micro Grant Categories
- Municipal Farm Map Projects
- Municipalities may apply for funds to create a multilingual electronic and printed map/brochure highlighting all farms in their town and host a map unveiling event to encourage community support of local farmers.
- Eligible expenses – Hiring subcontractors to develop the map, materials, provide translation, and limited supplies for the unveiling event, printing the developed materials, and event promotion.
- Certified Farmers’ Market Promotion and Outreach
- Certified CT Grown farmers markets may apply for funds to develop new marketing materials to promote their market and availability of redemption for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program through print, digital, social, or other media outlets while using the CT Grown logo.
- Eligible expenses- Hiring a graphic designer to create media, printing of developed materials, distribution of materials, and costs of promoting the market through print, digital, social, or other media outlets.
2024 Questions of Focus
- Enhancing Youth Agricultural Education
- Bolstering the availability of youth agricultural education, gaining experiences on working farms, and utilizing ag specific equipment with opportunities for hands-on skill development will encourage pursuit of lifelong careers in CT agriculture.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Agriculture
- DoAg acknowledges the importance of supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive agricultural community and working towards achieving an industry that addresses structural and systemic inequities faced by many producers who identify as BIPOC, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community or people with a disability.
- Urban Ag
- Urban agriculture is a growing, meaningful sector of Connecticut agriculture that can contribute to increasing food security, food sovereignty, agriculture education of all ages and reducing carbon emissions.
- Food Supply Chain
- The COVID 19 pandemic has continued to increase awareness of the importance of a sustainable and resilient local food supply in CT. With the increased demand for CT Grown food and farm products, the lack of resources and significant challenges related to distribution and processing options for CT farmers became apparent.
- Farmland Accessibility
- Farmland accessibility and farmland conversion are a continuing challenge that the CT agricultural industry faces; specifically for new farmers. There are currently over 500 farmers seeking farmland on CTFarmlink.org, a website and resource hub that aims to connect farmland owners with farmland seekers and aid in the successful transition of farmland.
Funding Information
The amount awarded to any applicant addressing a Question of Focus shall not exceed $49,999.00. The amount awarded to any applicant for a Micro Grant shall not exceed $5,000.00.
Project Period
Projects must be complete within 18-24 months of the contract start date. Contract and project extensions are not allowed. Please anticipate a project start date of May 1, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply for all Agricultural Enhancement Grants:
- Municipalities with a current Plan of Conservation and Development.
- Regional councils of governments organized under the provisions of inclusive.
- Groups of municipalities that have established a regional inter-local agreement pursuant to sections inclusive.
- Agricultural non-profit organizations.
Non-profit specific requirements:
- Non-profits must be registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State.
- Non-profits must have submitted Form 990 and been in existence for the previous three years.
For more information, visit Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
