The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications from organizations for the new, one-time Emerging Farmer Technical Assistance Grant.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/26/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Grants can be used to:
- Provide technical and culturally appropriate services to emerging farmers, and/or
- Pay for up to 65% of emerging farmers’ premium expenses each year up to two years under the USDA Micro Farm Crop Insurance program.
This grant program will fund business technical assistance for emerging farmers, which includes farmers who are American Indian or Alaskan Natives, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, members of a community of color, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, or any other emerging farmers as determined by the commissioner of agriculture.
The intended outcomes of this grant are:
- Organizations provide one-on-one assistance to emerging farmers across Minnesota who need help with financials, business planning, record keeping, regulations, land access, marketing, applying for state and federal programs, and/or other farm business needs.
- Emerging farmers become aware of and sign up for USDA’s Micro Farm Crop Insurance.
- Organizations provide the MDA with recommendations for effective ways to provide culturally appropriate technical assistance to emerging farmers.
Funding Information
The Minnesota State Legislature approved a one-time appropriation of $577,000 for this grant program with approximately $540,000 that will be awarded as grants. Grant contract terms will begin no sooner than August 2023 and end no later than June 30, 2024. The maximum award is $100,000, and the minimum award is $10,000. Matching funds are not required.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations that support emerging farmers in Minnesota are eligible to apply for this grant award. Applicants may collaborate with stakeholders as they develop a proposal. Applicants must be in good standing with the State of Minnesota, which means:
- No back taxes owed.
- No defaults on Minnesota State-backed financing for the last seven years.
- Acceptable performance on past MDA grants.
- Compliant with current state regulations.
Eligible expenses for this grant include, but are not limited to:
- Compensation for staff who provide technical assistance
- Supplies and travel expenses for providing technical assistance
- Up to 65% of emerging farmers’ premium expenses each year up to two years under the USDA Micro Farm Crop Insurance program
- Outreach expenses for promoting technical assistance and/or crop insurance services
- Up to 10% of the grant may fund an organization’s indirect expenses, such as: office and utility expenses, accounting/bookkeeping services, legal fees, etc.
For more information, visit MDA.
