Funding Wizard

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications from state governments for the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Program. The goal will be to establish cooperative agreements with state governments for the purpose of purchasing domestic, locally grown foods from local producers, small businesses, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers for distribution to schools. AMS will make only one award per state government; agencies within the state must coordinate if more than one agency wishes to implement this program. The state governments can also partner with local organizations. Up to $200 million is available from funds authorized under section 5(c) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 USC 714c(c)). This announcement identifies the eligibility criteria for LFS applicants, the application forms, and associated instructions needed to apply for an LFS award. AMS encourages applications that benefit both small businesses and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers and provides food distribution to schools. For cooperative agreements intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications. AMS would like these relationships and purchase and distribution channels to continue past the conclusion of this program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to award grants to eligible State departments of agriculture to carry out projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The SCBGP assists State departments of agriculture in the 50 States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by— (1) leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops; (2) assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops; (3) expanding availability and access to specialty crops; and (4) addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). A State department of agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will establish cooperative agreements with state and Tribal governments for the purpose of supporting local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through food purchasing under the “Build Back Better Initiative.” State and Tribal governments will purchase food from local and regional farmers/producers, targeting socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. These cooperative agreements will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. USDA will provide the state or Tribal government funding for food purchases as well as guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement. Initial agreements will be distributed incrementally to ensure all interested applicants have an opportunity for an award. Initial awards will be to State Governments and Tribal Governments. Depending on demand, additional agreements may be made available for local governments. The expectation of this program is for recipients to spend the pre-dominance of awarded funds on food purchases. Food purchases can include both fresh and processed foods. Applicants may also request direct and indirect costs associated with developing and administering the program in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414. All food purchased must meet the definition of domestically produced as well as the definition of local as defined in section 1.2.1. The period of performance for the Cooperative Agreements will be two years from the time of award. State agencies and Tribal governments should determine funding amounts based on their local food purchase availability and the needs of underserved communities. Funds may also be used to cover the activities associated with program development, administration, food storage and food distribution. States and Tribal governments will submit proposals indicating how they will use the funds to purchase commodities to meet the specified objectives within their state or region. These funds will be awarded through a non-competitive process based on the statutory The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funding formula. This formula considers the poverty rate and unemployment levels in each state to ensure the distribution of funds corresponds to feeding needs in each state. Cooperative Agreement applications will be awarded based on acceptability and ability to meet the goals of the program.

To explore and identify new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. agricultural marketing system. FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally.

Approximately $13.5 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2020 is available to be awarded through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is a component of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), which is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill under the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).The goals of FMPP grants are to develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer to consumer markets to help increase access to and availability and regionally produced agricultural products. FMPP offers both Capacity Building (CB) and Community Development, Training, and Technical Assistance (CTA) projects. For CB projects, the minimum grant award is $50,000 and maximum award is $250,000. For CTA projects, the minimum grant award is $100,000 and maximum award $500,000. The official performance period must begin on September 30, 2020. Both CB and CTA FMPP projects are awarded for up to 36 months (3 years) and are expected to be completed by September 29, 2023. Matching funds of 25% of the Total Federal portion of the grant is required.

Approximately $13.5 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2020 is available for award through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP is a component of the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP), which is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill under the Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP). The goal of LFPP grants are to develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. LFPP offers both Planning and Implementation projects. For LFPP Planning, the minimum award is 25,000 and a maximum of $100,000 for up to 18 months (1.5 years). Applicants are expected to begin on September 30, 2020 and be completed by March 31, 2022. For LFPP Implementation projects, the minimum award is $100,000 and a maximum of $500,000 for a period of 36 months (3 years). Applicants are expected to begin September 30, 2020 and be completed by September 29, 2023. Matching funds of 25% of the Total Federal portion of the grant is required.

FMPP funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. The program focuses on: Supporting and promoting domestic direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant, and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) marketing such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or online sales; Encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products; Developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products; Facilitating regional food chain coordination development; Promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste; Responding to changing technology needs in direct producer-to-consumer marketing; and Covering expenses related to costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.

To support the efforts of States, Tribal governments, and research institutions to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the following activities:Promotion of research and education related to maple syrup production.Promotion of natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry.Market promotion for maple syrup and maple-sap products.Encouragement of owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer:to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities on the land; orto voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-sugaring activities.

LFPP funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. The program focuses on: •Supporting the processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products that are marketed locally or regionally, including value-added agricultural products;•Encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products;•Assisting with business development plans and feasibility studies;•Developing marketing strategies for producers of local food products and value-added agricultural products in new and existing markets;•Facilitating regional food chain coordination and mid-tier value chain development;•Promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste;•Responding to changing technology needs in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing; and•Covering expenses related to cost incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.

FMPP funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. The program focuses on: •Supporting and promoting domestic direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant, and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) marketing such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or online sales;•Encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products;•Developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products; •Facilitating regional food chain coordination and mid-tier value chain development;•Promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste; •Responding to changing technology needs in direct producer-to-consumer marketing; and•Covering expenses related to costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.