The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is pleased to announce the availability of funds for the 2025 Transportation for Youth to New York State County and Local Fairs Competitive Grants Program.
Donor Name: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/18/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
This program will provide funding for transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs during the 2025 fair season.
The program aims to increase youth attendance at county and local fairs with the goal of enhancing youth participation in, and appreciation of, agriculture and the domestic arts. Successful projects will showcase local agriculture and expose young people to the fair atmosphere creating meaningful, long-lasting memories.
Funding Information
A total of $350,000 is available under this RFP. Applicants may apply for only one grant pursuant to this RFP. Applicants can apply for up to $25,000.
Grant Period
The project must be proposed for implementation during the 2025 county and local fair season. Successful proposals will be awarded a contract with a term beginning March 1, 2025 and ending September 15, 2025.
Eligible Costs
Grant funds may be used for any of the following purposes directly related to completion of an eligible project, including but not limited to:
- Salaries and wages
- Contractual services
- Staff training
- Transportation related costs
- Supplies and equipment
- Fair entry fees
- Food and activity vouchers
- Catering
- Consumer marketing campaigns directly related to this program.
Eligible Projects
- Eligible projects must involve organizing and providing transportation for youths to local and county fairs. Projects must focus on enhancing agricultural awareness and education among participants. Youth participants should be exposed to stories and experiences of local agriculture with the goal of expanding their knowledge of the agriculture industry in New York and making them aware that some of the best agriculture in the world is grown right here in New York State. Other project goals will be to encourage youth who may not be exposed to agriculture in their daily lives to explore agricultural education opportunities in their schools or communities and to consider a career in agriculture.
- Funds can be used for transportation costs, the cost of entry to the fairs (if applicable), providing lunch to participants, developing and delivering agricultural educational programming to participants, and marketing activities that are directly related to this program.
- Proposed work plans should address how the project will enhance agricultural awareness and education among participants. The applicant should also address who will be responsible for youth supervision while at the fair including plans for an adequate number of chaperones.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Agricultural & Horticultural Corporations that sponsor an annual fair or exposition for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts and receive premium reimbursements pursuant to Article 24 of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law;
- County extension service associations;
- Municipalities;
- Not-for-profit corporations; and
- Indian tribal organizations.
For more information, visit NYSDAM.