Grants/Funding Opportunities

The program information below is based on current and/or recent year program information.  Grantmaking programs may change year-to-year, so Southern SAWG encourages you to do your homework before applying for any grants to ensure current programs fit your goals.

Categories:

Sustainable Farming
Food & Communities
Outreach & Assistance
Research, Education, & Professional Development
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

"Assisting organic producers is a priority of the 2008 Farm Bill as well as for Secretary Vilsack and the Obama Administration," said Merrigan. "The objective of this initiative is to make organic food producers eligible to compete for EQIP financial assistance."

The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.

Full USDA Announcement - Click Here

Useful Memo from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC):
http://ofrf.org/policy/federal_legislation/farm_bill_implementation/09may_NSAC_eqip_OI_memo.pdf

Find your local Conservation Office:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is the major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S.* The 2009 Request for Applications (RFA) was released on April 7, with a deadline of May 13. There is no Letter of Intent process this year, so all applicants must submit a full proposal to be considered for funding.

The guidelines and procedures are detailed in the CFP Request for Applications: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/community_food.html

All proposals must be submitted electronically. If you are planning to apply this year and are not already registered with grants.gov, it is extremely important to start that process immediately: http://www.grants.gov (click on “Get Registered”). More information and technical support contacts are available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html. Additional tips are available on the CFSC website.

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) Offers Free Assistance to CFP Applicants

CFSC sponsors technical assistance (TA) specialists who can provide you with free assistance with your CFP proposal. They can clarify CFP program guidelines, help you decide whether or not to apply for a grant, provide feedback on project plans, review draft proposals, and/or help you develop an evaluation plan. CFSC will sponsor up to 60 minutes of one-on-one assistance per grant applicant at no cost. Additional time may be available at an hourly rate.

See http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html for details on how to access this service. Starting early is important to ensure that you will be able to receive timely assistance.

Community Food Projects Planning Guide and Other Materials

CFSC offers a planning guide with a wealth of information about the CFP program guidelines and how to develop a strong proposal. It is available for free at http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html (scroll down to bottom of page). The CFSC website also includes advice on electronic submission, a guide to developing Planning Project proposals, examples of successful CFP grant proposals, and other information helpful to CFP applicants.

Community Food Projects Program Goals

*The CFP Program supports projects that:

-Help meet the food needs of low-income people,
-Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs,
-Promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues, and
-Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for infrastructure improvement and development, long-term planning, or the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

Sustainable Farming

USDA SARE Southern Region Agricultural Sustainability Grants

The Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program typically offers three different competitive grant programs, including producer grants, on-farm research grants, and sustainable community grants.  For more info: Southern Region SARE Program web site, or call 770-412-4787 to request a printed copy.

USDA CSREES Integrated Organic Program 

The Integrated Organic Program uses part of its funding to support long-term projects lasting for 48 months. Applicants must state in their applications that they are seeking long-term support.

At least some of the Integrated Organic Program funds are directed toward sponsoring workshops or symposia.

Organic Farming Research Foundation 

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has special funds available to fund research and education projects related to organic fruit production up to $20,000 per year. 

OFRF has a general grantmaking program open to any topic related to organic agriculture at a level of $15,000 per year. OFRF offers funds for research on any topic that will improve organic production systems, and for education and outreach projects to share organic farming information with current organic producers and to farmers and ranchers considering transitioning their operations to organic.

OFRF particularly encourages farmers, ranchers, researchers, and extension personnel to apply for funding. 

Food & Communities

USDA CSREES Community Food Projects Grants 

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is a major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. Community Food Projects should be designed to (1): (A) meet the food needs of low-income people; (B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for (A) infrastructure improvement and development; (B) planning for long-term solutions; or (C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

HHS Take Action: Healthy People, Places and Practices in Communities Projects

With a focus on evaluating the impact of a unique set of healthy lifestyles activities in local settings that support the President's HealthierUS initiative, the proposed activities should address one or more of the four parts of the President's HealthierUS initiative: 1)be physically active, 2) eat a nutritious diet, 3) get preventive screenings, and 4) make healthy choices/avoid risky behaviors.

Outreach & Assistance

USDA RMA Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Grants 

This program provides funding for collaborative outreach and assistance programs for limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers, who produce Priority Commodities as defined in Part I.C. 

Research, Education, Professional Development

USDA SARE Research and Education Grants

Research and Education grants are usually conducted by multi-institution, interdisciplinary professional research teams seeking new knowledge that will benefit farmers financially while protecting their natural resources and improving the quality of life in rural communities. Recent awards include a study of how farmers learn and an evaluation of cover crops for organic strawberry production.

USDA SARE Professional Development Grants 

Professional Development grants focus on training cooperative extension agents and other ag professionals who work with farmers. Recent projects include curriculum development for ag professionals who work with sheep and goat producers.

USDA Graduate Student Grants 

Graduate Student grants pay for research activities conducted by a Masters or Ph.D. student. Recent projects include a study of the weed-suppression potential of rye as a cover crop and an evaluation of northern cardinal predation of cabbage worms.

USDA CSREES Conservation Effects Assessment Grants 

In the past, the goal has been to build a knowledge base that can be used to evaluate impacts of conservation practices and programs on water resources, improve the management of agricultural landscapes to achieve environmental goals and inform policy decisions. This is a joint effort with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

2008 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Announced

$36 million in funding available

Farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses have new opportunities to install energy efficiency upgrades and new renewable energy systems.

Section 9006 clean energy grant and loan guarantee program. The program rules are similar to last year's, with a few changes. Congress recently boosted total 2008 funding for this program from $23 million to $36 million in recognition of the value and demand for Section 9006.

Below are key changes for 2008:

Grants: For grants, the USDA is making $15.9 million available for 2008 (though more may come later from unused loan guarantee allocations). The USDA has established two grant cycles this year, with application deadlines of April 16th and June 16th. 50% of the grant funding will be set aside for each cycle. Applications not funded in the first cycle will be reconsidered in the second cycle.

Loan Guarantees: USDA will review and decide applications for loan guarantees on a continuous basis, but must be received by USDA no later than June 16th. Applications for combined loan guarantee-grants will be reviewed bi-weekly and USDA also must receive those applications no later than June 16th. The USDA has provided funding resulting in $205 million in loan guarantees (leveraging $19.9 million from original Congressional funding).

On-Line Applications: Grant applicants have the option to submit applications online from www.grants.gov and submit their application electronically. (At the time of this writing, the application is not yet available). Loan guarantee applications can only be submitted in paper form.

Further Information: Further information on the program including frequently asked questions, official application forms and templates, checklists, tips, case studies, application instructions and regulations can be found at www.farmenergy.org.

We will gladly post grant opportunities available to those working in sustainable agriculture in the South. Submit call for proposals for consideration to: info@ssawg.org.