The Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets is accepting applications for its Business Enhancement Grants.
Donor Name: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/20/2023
Size of the Grant: $15,000–$50,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
Approximately 20% of Vermont’s working landscape is used for agricultural purposes, and 80% is forested. Vermont prospers and its unique sense of place thrives because of intelligent investments in the people and enterprises that comprise its farm, food, and forest-based systems. Strong community engagement and support for the farm and forest sectors leads to enhanced quality of life for Vermont citizens and working lands business owners.
Funding Information
- Available fund Up to $580,000 from 2024 State of Vermont legislative appropriation.
- Minimum and Maximum Award $15,000–$50,000 per award.
Project Duration
12 months
Eligible Projects
Projects eligible for funding may relate to one or more of the following categories:
- Market development – professionalizing a marketing and/or branding approach to new or expanded markets; hiring a professional marketing/branding contractor to develop strategy and/or content; implementing the strategy and/or content developed by the contractor (e.g., branding, website, or social media development)
- Research and development – testing new systems or technology
- Infrastructure development – project-specific planning, permitting, engineering or architectural plans; building and equipment costs, including for labor and/or energy efficiency enhancements, such as lighting, refrigeration/cooling, heat pumps, solar panels, low-energy water management, ventilation systems, and/or energy generation; may include equipment installation and/or technical assistance costs
- Workforce training and development – technical skill training for staff, business management training, and/or business succession planning, including hiring a consultant to support any of these processes
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses must be based in Vermont and registered with the Vermont Secretary of State at the time of application. All structures are eligible (e.g., Partnerships, Limited Liability Corporations, Sole Proprietorships, Cooperatives, Corporations, S Corporations, L3Cs, B Corporations, and/or non-profits that are involved in the support of production of agriculture and/or forest products). Applicants must be in compliance with all state regulations (including but not limited to water quality, taxes, and child support) and in good standing with the State of Vermont at the time of applying and must remain so during the entire grant period.
- Value-added food businesses that source at least 50% of raw ingredients from Vermont OR are applying for a Working Lands grant to significantly increase use of ingredients sourced from Vermont are eligible. This means that businesses that sell “unique food products” are not eligible unless the business will use grant funds to increase production of raw ingredients in Vermont. Unique food products are defined as processed food made from ingredients that are not regularly produced in Vermont or are not available in sufficient quantities to meet production requirements.
- Secondary forestry businesses are eligible if at least 50% of the wood they use is grown in the Northeast OR the Working Lands grant project will significantly increase use of wood sourced from the Northeast.
For more information, visit Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets.
