The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Agriculture is accepting grant applications for the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Grant Program.
Donor Name: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
State: Rhode Island
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The LASA Grant Program provides grants that directly benefit and strengthen the local food system in Rhode Island. The program was established by the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) of 2012 via an innovative public-private partnership between the state and three private foundations — the Van Buren Charitable Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Rhode Island Foundation. Currently, the program is made possible by funding from the State of Rhode Island. The goal of the LASA grant program is to support the growth, development, and marketing of local food and seafood in Rhode Island.
Funding Priorities
The LASA Advisory Committee sets priorities each grant year and makes recommendations to the Director of the RIDEM. Applicants are required to fulfill at least one (not all) of the funding priorities listed below.
- Support the entry, growth, and/or sustainability of Underinvested, Beginning, Small, Women, and veteran agriculture and aquaculture producers and fishers
- Support climate-smart agriculture mitigation activities and Climate Change related adaptations throughout the local Food System.
- Support the development of new marketing, promotion, sales, and/or distribution channels, including connecting local farms and fishers with Rhode Island’s food insecure communities.
- Support the development of new products, including value added processing capacity.
- Foster new cooperatives, partnerships, and/or collaborations among Rhode Island agriculture and aquaculture producers, and fishers and supporting organizations.
- Protect the future availability of agricultural land for producers, including farm transition planning and implementation.
- Assist with on farm Food Safety improvements including FSMA and HACCP Compliance.
Funding Information
- The RIDEM Division of Agriculture will award approximately $500,000 in this grant round
- The maximum grant award available to a farmer, individual, business (e.g., LLC) or non-profit organization is $20,000.
Project Period
Projects may be up to 24 months in duration.
Eligible Projects
Projects/programs must serve at least one of the following purposes in order to be eligible for funding through the LASA Grants Program:
- Assist in the marketing of Rhode Island grown agricultural products and local seafood1 for the purpose of sale and promotion.
- Enhance the economic competitiveness of Rhode Island grown agricultural products and local seafood.
- Provide financial and technical assistance support to organizations and producers for activities and programs which enhance the economic viability of local agriculture, and support the development of a locally based, safe and sustainable food system.
- Perform other activities necessary to facilitate the success and viability of the state’s agricultural and seafood sectors.
In addition to providing grants for projects or programs, the LASA Grant Program may also provide capital grants to small or beginning Rhode Island farmers and aquaculture producers to support the growth and sustainability of Rhode Island’s farming and aquaculture industries.
Eligibility Criteria
For-profit farmers, fishermen/women, and producer groups are eligible to apply as are non-profit organizations. Please note that for-profit farmers will be prioritized over non-profit organizations, the LASA review committee will only fund projects if the non-profit cannot fund otherwise. Applicants must be based in the State of Rhode Island. The Advisory Committee will value geographic diversity in the applicant pool when making award determinations. Only Small and/or Beginning farmers, or producer groups of small or beginning farmers, are eligible to apply for capital grants. (Aquaculture operators are considered farmers in this regard). Priority will be given to grant applicants that have not received LASA award(s) in the past 3 years. Please note, any equipment or vehicles must be special use equipment for farm and/or food production.
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