2012 Grants for Agriculture - Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has a number of business planning and environmental programs with grants available to help agricultural operations make farm improvements that enhance their economic viability and help prevent environmental resource impacts. Request for Responses with Application are dependent upon funding each year, typically available in April through June. Below are descriptions of the programs, with more information at: www.mass.gov/agr/programs
Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP)
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) is a business planning and technical assistance program that provides management advice and grants of $25,000 to $100,000 to implement farm growth and sustainability strategies. Farm operators receive grant awards for signing a 5 or 10 year Agricultural Covenant, to keep their property in agricultural use, and receive valuable consultations and visits from a team of experts to discuss needs on the farm, such as farm production and management, marketing, and business planning. Typical uses of funds include building or repairing farm structures, modernizing field equipment. For more information, call 617-626-1723 The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
APR Improvement Program (AIP)
The APR Improvement Program (AIP) provides funding, technical assistance, and business planning to farms with land that has already been protected through MDAR’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program. buildings - such as storage barns, livestock structures, farmstands or processing facilities. For more information, contact Melissa Adams at (413) 268-8269 Melissa.AdamsAIP@gmail.com Responses must be received by June 26, 2012.
Matching Enterprise Grants Program (MEGA)
The Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) Program helps with business expansion on new and beginning farms. MEGA provides technical assistance and business planning help, and then provide funds for farm improvement strategies. For more information, contact Kate Hayes at 413-559-0949 or mega.coordinator@gmail.com Deadline for submitting applications is June 26, 2012.
Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program The purpose of AEEP is to support agricultural operations that are looking to install conservation practices that prevent direct impacts on water quality, ensure efficient use of water, as well as address impacts on air quality. Contact Laura Maul at 617-626-1739 Laura.Maul@state.ma.us All projects must be completed by June 30, 2013.
Agricultural Energy Grant Program (Ag Energy) is a competitive grant program that funds agricultural energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency and to facilitate adoption of alternative clean energy technologies by Massachusetts farms in order that farms can become more sustainable and the Commonwealth can maximize the environmental and economic benefits from these technologies. Contact Gerry Palano 617-626-1706 Gerry.Palano@state.ma.us All projects must be completed by June 30, 2013.
