The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Farm Transition Grant Program 2023.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department of Agriculture
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/11/2023
Size of the Grant: $49,999
Details:
The Farm Transition Grant Program (FTG) (C.G.S. Sec. 22-26k) is a competitive matching grant program for Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives to support the diversification of existing farm operations, transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales, and other venues in which a majority of products sold are grown in the state.
Category
- New Farmer Micro Grant
- The New Farmer Micro Grant supports new and beginning individuals or partnerships with one full year to three years of production history, seeking long-term agriculture careers.
- Infrastructure Investment
- The Infrastructure Investment Grant supports farmers, who have a minimum of three years of production experience, with a need for infrastructure to expand the farm’s production and operation.
- Research & Development
- The Research & Development Grant supports farms to conduct research, explore or assess the viability and interest in developing a new product line, service, or market.
- Innovation & Diversification
- The Innovation & Diversification Grant supports the implementation of a new product or service for market or business expansion.
- Applicants do not need to have completed a Research and Development Grant through the FTG to be eligible to apply for an Innovation & Diversification Grant.
- An applicant should have a thorough plan which is shared in the application and have previously conducted research to determine if implementing the project solution is worth the investment for their business.
Funding Information
- New Farmer Micro Grant:
- Maximum award: $5,000
- Match requirement: 25% of project costs
- Infrastructure Investment Grant:
- Maximum award: $20,000
- Match requirement: 50% of project costs
- Research and Development Grant:
- Maximum award: $25,000
- Match requirement: 40% of project costs
- Innovation and Diversification Grant:
- Maximum award: $49,999
- Match requirement: 50% of project costs
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply for all Farm Transition Grant categories:
- Agricultural producers, singularly or jointly, whether such producers are owners or tenants of existing agribusiness within the State of Connecticut
- Agricultural cooperatives
- To apply for the New Farmer Micro Grant, eligible entities must meet the following to qualify:
- Apply for or possess a Farmers’ Tax Exemption Permit through the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
- Have a 2–5-year business plan drafted
- Complete and submit a crop plan
- Be the operation owner
- Production history of at least one full year up to three years
- Tenants must include a written agreement between all necessary parties regarding the submitted project*
- To apply for the Infrastructure Investment Grant, Research and Development Grant, and Innovation and Diversification Grant eligible entities must meet the following to qualify:
- Be registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State, if established as a limited liability corporation or incorporation
- Possess a Farmers’ Tax Exemption Permit
- Three years of Farmer’s tax exemption certificates are required to be provided upon request by the Department
- Tenants must include a long term written lease agreement between all necessary parties regarding the submitted project*
- Previous awardees to the Farm Transition Grant can reapply. Past awards and corresponding project completion will be taken into consideration when evaluating applications.
*A template landlord agreement can be found in the Documents/Forms section.
For more information, visit CDA.
