The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB), has grants of $5,000 to $50,000 available on a competitive basis to Vermont farmers for water quality related investments.
Donor Name: Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 01/09/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
These grants are designed to help farm businesses undertake projects that improve on-farm water quality, help farms comply with water quality regulations, and improve overall farm viability. All awards require a 1 to 1 match, meaning that VHCB funds cannot reimburse more than 50% of the total project costs. Grant funds will be reimbursed upon the completion of the project.
Grant Period
Projects will have a compliance timeline of January 9, 2026- November 1, 2027.
Eligible Projects
Projects must directly impact water quality and must be for long-term investments rather than annual practices or improvements with a short life span including construction or renovation projects, long-term infrastructure improvements, and equipment. VHCB awards may be used as a cost share with other state or federal programs such as NRCS-EQIP, VAAFM BMP, and VAAFM CEAP. Examples of eligible projects include:
- Construction, renovation, upgrades, or expansions to farm facilities: manure storage facilities, barn or barnyard construction including bedded-pack, and feed storage that will reduce silage leachate
- Equipment that improves nutrient management: No-till seeders, manure injection equipment (including toolbars, tankers, hoses, and GPS systems), cover crop equipment, compost management, and feed equipment that will improve on-farm water quality
- Conservation-related improvements: Fencing, laneways, other long-term improvements that will significantly improve soil health and reduce runoff.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any farm that is required to meet the Required Agricultural Practices and has gross sales of $15,000 per year or more is eligible to apply.
- Non-farm entities playing an integral role in water quality management on farms, such as custom operators or nonprofits supporting farms. Please contact staff to ensure your entity is eligible prior to applying.
- Dairy and livestock farms are likely to be more competitive applicants. Produce farms will be eligible provided they can demonstrate that their project will have significant, positive impacts on water quality.
- Grantees are expected to comply with all labor, tax, and water quality laws and regulations, however farms that are out of compliance but working with Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets (VAAFM) and/or Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff to come into compliance may be considered a high priority for grant funds. Businesses that are currently the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Attorney General’s office, or otherwise not in good standing with the agency partners, will not be eligible.
For more information, visit VHCB.
