Grant Listings

NOTICE: These listings are updated regularly. PASA cannot ensure that these opportunities are still available, please check with the contact for each listing for updated information.

Grants Available Through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Product Promotion Matching Grant Program
717-787-6041
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Funds projects that increase consumer awareness of Pennsylvania's agricultural products to increase sales of these products.

Agriculture and Rural Youth Organizations Grant Program
717-787-6041
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Funds projects that increase knowledge and awareness of agricultural and rural issues in Pennsylvania, especially among youth and teens.

Agriculture Linked Investment Program
717-772-4189
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Provides low-interest loans to help agricultural operators implement best management practices that are part of approved nutrient management plans under Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
800-468-2433
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Establishes new market opportunities for farmers by bringing new customers to local markets. Designed to provide participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program with supplemented foods, including locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Hardwoods Development Council Grant
717-772-3715
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Promote access to timber resources on private and public lands; support the development of domestic and international markets for timber products; promote the development of value-added manufacturing; and promote the public understanding of the role the hardwoods industry and its products.

Next Generation Farmer Loan Program
717-787-6041
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Provides low-interest loans to beginning farmers. Provides effective means for federal-state-industry linkages so the public sector can assist beginning and first-time farmers to purchase land and farm equipment and breed livestock.

Plan Development Incentives Program
717-772-4189
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Provides incentives through cost-share funding to help offset the costs of developing a nutrient management plan under Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act.

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

Appalachian Regional Commission
800-379-7448
www.arc.gov
Provides grant funding to support the development of human and community infrastructure in the 52 Appalachian counties in Pennsylvania.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners
717-787-4147
www.benfranklin.org
Regional centers that provide funding through various investment funding mechanisms to support research and development of new products or processes, and various services to businesses that introduce or develop new technologies.

Business in Our Sites
717-787-7120
www.newPA.com
Offers flexible loans and grants to local municipalities and their economic development partners to create opportunities for future business growth through the acquisition and preparation of key sites for development.

Center for Entrepreneurial Assistance
800-280-3801
www.newPA.com
State government's lead office for small business development. Works to enhance the entrepreneurial vitality of the Commonwealth and to build an environment that encourages the creation, expansion, and retention of successful small businesses.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
717-720-7402
www.newPA.com
Provides financial and technical assistance to help communities in their community and economic development efforts.

Community Economic Development Loan Program
717-783-5046
www.newPA.com
Provides assistance to startup and fledgling businesses that will provide products or services to communities previously unserved or underserved.

Community Revitalization Program
800-379-7448
www.newPA.com
Supports local initiatives that improve the stability of communities and enhance local economic conditions.

First Industries Fund
717-787-7120
www.newPA.com
Provides grants, low-interest loan financing and loan guarantees to farmers and owners of tourism and agriculture-related businesses.

Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers
215-898-4861
www.pasbdc.org
Network of 16 university-based centers and more than 90 outreach locations operating under the guidance of the state director.

Regional Marketing Initiative Grant Program
800-237-4363
www.newPA.com
Provides matching state funds to regional tourism development efforts across Pennsylvania.

Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA)
717-783-5046
www.newPA.com
Provides assistance for small businesses to implement pollution prevention and energy-efficiency projects, enabling these businesses to adopt or install equipment or processes that reduce pollution, energy use or raw materials.

Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP)
814-865-0427
www.penntap.psu.edu
Helps Pennsylvania businesses improve competitiveness by providing free technical assistance and information to help resolve specific technical questions or needs that can be addressed within a limited amount of time.

USDA / Farm Services Agency Beginning Farmer Down Payment Farm Ownership Program
717-237-2135
www.fsa.usda.gov
Loans to purchase a farm or ranch.

Direct Emergency Program
717-237-2135
www.fsa.usda.gov
Emergency loans to restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation and refinance indebtedness with certain limitations.

Direct Farm Ownership Program
717-237-2135
www.fsa.usda.gov
Loans to purchase land, construct buildings or make other improvements, and to undertake soil and water conservation.

Direct Operating Program
717-237-2135
www.fsa.usda.gov
Loans to purchase livestock, poultry, equipment, feed, seed, farm chemicals and supplies; to undertake soil and water conservation; and to refinance indebtedness with certain limitations.

Guaranteed Farm Ownership Program
717-237-2135
www.fsa.usda.gov
Loans to purchase land, construct buildings or make other improvements and undertake soil and water conservation. Loans may be used to refinance debts.

Farmland Protection Program
717-237-2200
www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov
Voluntary program that helps farmers keep their land in agriculture. Provides funding to state, local, or tribal entities with existing farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)
717-237-2200
www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov
Works to maintain and improve management, productivity and health of the nation's privately owned grazing land.

Farm Labor Housing
717-237-2299
www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa
Provides capital financing for the development of housing for domestic farm laborers. Loans are made to farmers, farm associations, family farm corporations, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and farmworker associations.

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program
717-237-2289
www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa
Makes direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Value-Added Producer Grant Program
570-836-5111
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
Assists independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives and agricultural producer groups entering into value-added activities. Applicants must meet specific selection criteria. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

Small Business Loans
215-580-2722
www.sba.gov/pa/phil
Guaranteed loans to small businesses that cannot obtain financing in the private credit marketplace, but can demonstrate an ability to repay loans. Guaranteed loans are provided to eligible, for-profit small businesses.

PA Grows
888-724-7697
www.pagrows.com
PA Grows is the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's new initiative designed to assist agricultural producers in gaining access to the capital they need to begin, continue, or expand their businesses.

Grants Related to Food Systems

Community Food Project Grants

The Community Food Projects (CFP) competitive grants program provides the major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. Approximately $5 million in funds will be available in 2006. Details will be included in the request for applications, coming in January. 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; meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for infrastructure improvement & development, long-term planning or the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers. The 2005 version of the request for applications is available at www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1080.

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) offers free assistance to help you develop a successful proposal.

One-on-One Assistance to Grant Applicants

CFSC's technical assistance specialists can help you decide whether or not to apply, clarify CFP program guidelines, address technical questions, provide feedback on program plans or proposal drafts, and help you develop an evaluation plan.  CFSC will sponsor up to 75 minutes of one-on-one assistance per grant applicant at no cost. See http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html

Community Food Projects Planning Guide and Other Materials

This Planning Guide provides a wealth of information about 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 examples of successful CFP grant proposals.

Grants Available from the USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for "Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops," which stated in part that FAS " ... today announced that it is accepting applications for fiscal year 2006 assistance under the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program. The TASC Program is designed to open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. It helps U.S. exporters address phytosanitary or other technical barriers that prohibit or threaten exports of U.S. specialty crops ... Any U.S. organization, private or government, may apply to receive assistance under the TASC Programm ... Proposals can be submitted by one of two deadlines Feb. 1, 2006 and July 1, 2006. For a complete text of the news release is posted at http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/PressRelease/pressrel_dout.asp?PrNum=0205-05

Farmer Transition away from the Use of High-Risk to Lower Risk Pesticides and to the Application of Sustainable Practices in Food Production
EPA's Region 9 seeks research grant applications by March 13, 2006 from State governments, Public, State and Private Institutions of Higher Education, Tribal Governments, nonprofit organizations and others in its FY 2006 "Strategic Agricultural Initiative/Food Quality Protection Act Grant Program" which provides " ... support [for] efforts by the agricultural community to 'transition' away from high-risk pesticides to lower risk pesticides and sustainable practices in food production. The program supports grants for education, extension and demonstration projects for FQPA transition and reduced risk practices for pest management in agriculture..." in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and American Samoa and Guam - EPA has $0.39 Million in grant funds for the program - Details are posted at http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/EPA/OGD/GAD/EPA-R9-CED1-06-003/Grant.html

EPA Grants for Research on Allergenicity of Genetically Engineered Foods
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing to develop methods to assess the potential allergenicity of genetically engineered foods. The development of these methods will help in identifying substances that induce dietary allergy in humans and lead to improved evaluation of the relative potency of unknown proteins. Currently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) have proposed a decision tree to be used in assessing the potential allergenicity of novel dietary proteins. However, many of the components recommended in this decision tree have not been sufficiently developed or validated. More at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2005/2005_star_biotech.html Due Date for Applications: Mar 21, 2006; Estimated Funding: $3 Million

USDA/CSREES has announced a grant opportunity for Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program: Integrated Pest Management Methyl Bromide Transitions Program
The closing date is 2/20/06 with an estimated total award to be approximately $3M.   The goal of the Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) program is to support the discovery and implementation of practical IPM alternatives for managing (a) soil borne pathogens and weeds; (b) post harvest pests; or (c) storage and packing material sanitation affected by the phase-out of methyl bromide. Projects supported by the MBT competitive funding program will focus on short- to intermediate-term approaches that lead to sustainable production technologies and systems.  For information, http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1107

USDA/CREES has announced the Integrated Research, Education, And Extension Competitive Grants Program: Integrated Pest Management Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP). The goal of RAMP is to enhance the development and implementation of innovative integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for (a) multi-crop food and fiber production systems; or (b) production systems on an area-wide or landscape scale. The primary emphasis of RAMP applications should be crop productivity and profitability while addressing critical environmental quality and human health issues.  The closing date for proposals is 2/13/06 and the anticipated award total is $4.5 Million. More information at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1125

USDA programs include:

Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants

Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grants (VADG) was authorized by the Agriculture Risk Protection Act of 2000 and has two primary objectives. The first is to encourage independent producers of agricultural commodities to furthered refine these products increasing their value to end users. The second objective is to establish an Information resource center to collect, disseminate, coordinate, and provide information on value-added processing to independent producers and processors. Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (AMS - USDA)

The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) provides matching funds to State Departments of Agriculture and other State agencies for 20-30 projects per year, on average.  These funds have been used by States to conduct marketing studies or assist in developing innovative approaches to the marketing of agricultural products. For Fiscal Year 2001, Federal funds in the amount of $1,350,000 have been provided in USDA's budget for FSMIP grant allocations.

Marketing Services Branch (AMS - USDA)
The Marketing Services Branch (MSB) Program focuses on four types of markets: wholesale, collection, farmers, and direct markets. MSB plans and designs facilities, processes, and methods in cooperation with State, local and tribal governments, universities, farmer groups, and private enterprise segments of the U.S. food industry.  This assistance is available through collaboration efforts with project participants in the form of cooperative agreements. This is not a grant program.  MSB also provides technical assistance, information and data to assist in developing feasibility studies for wholesale, collection, farmers and direct markets.

Rural Development Agency (USDA)
Rural Development may have funds available for your project.  If you are a cooperative, Rural-Business Cooperative Services may be the most appropriate match.  Check with your local field office for more information.

Food Nutrition Service (USDA)
The Food Nutrition Service (FNS) at USDA has been known to provide limited funds to support farmers markets in low-income areas.  These funds have been available on the state level.  For information on state FNS contacts, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/MENU/CONTACTS/CONT.HTM.  

Additional grant information available at:
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, & Extension Service www.csrees.usda.gov/

Grant Available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Application Announcement for the Compost Infrastructure Development Grant Program
Applications for the 2006 Compost Infrastructure Development Grant Program (Program) are now available from the Department of Environmental Protection (Department). Under the program, qualified existing and operating for-profit business entities and non-profit organizations in the Commonwealth will be awarded grants to increase the quantity of yard and/or food wastes collected and processed in the Commonwealth. The goal of this program is to increase the quantity of organic materials collected and composted to further increase the Commonwealth's recycling rate.  Additional consideration will be given to applications that are developed in consultation with the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (www.parmc.org, telephone 717-948-6660).  The Department will accept applications for the grant program until 4:00 p.m. on May 4, 2006.

The municipal waste stream consists of over 30% organic materials that could be recycled and diverted from the waste stream and managed by composting.  These organic waste streams, such as yard and food wastes, can become a resource to compost facilities that use these materials as feedstocks.  Composting of organic wastes helps to lessen the burden on landfill capacity and creates a beneficial soil conditioner that can be marketed.

Applications for the 2006 Program may be obtained by contacting Patti Olenick of the Bureau of Waste Management at (717) 783-2388 or by e-mail at polenick@state.pa.us.  Applications are also available electronically on the Department's website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK "Compost").

The Energy Farmers Project
Dreamt about renewable energy sources on your farm? The reality may be closer than you thought.

The purpose of this project is: to give farmers the tools, to evaluate the feasibility of installing alternative energy plants on their farms that can produce electricity for their own consumption, and for distribution on the grid.  Further we plan to evaluate alternative uses of solar technologies to meet specific off-grid needs for farmers.

Dairy, Hog, Horse, Grain, Food processors, Fruit, Mushroom

The result will be:

1. Solar /wind/ and biomass designs and cost estimates for 63 specific farms and models for 7 different farm sectors.
2. Development of a list of solar/wind off grid technology applications for each sector.

The vision is: to make available via the Internet renewable energy plans that make sense for each of the selected agriculture sectors based upon the size of the operation. This will enable farmers to make business decisions abut their energy needs from these prototypical models. In addition, each of the participating farmers will have a renewable proposal that can then be implemented. Possible funding sources will be included. We need farm businesses to participate.  Are you interested? Contact us at :  energyfarmer@mesasolar.net

Other Grant Resource Websites

Project for Public Places
www.pps.org Diversifying Public Markets & Farmers' Markets - This grant's initiative is being undertaken in partnership with the Farmers' Market Coalition, a program of the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA/ FMC) to support public market networks (with a specific focus on farmers markets), individual farmers markets, and state/regional farmers market associations. The 2006 public markets grant program aims to strategically support markets, especially in low- to moderate-income communities, to become more economically sustainable and community-centered. Granting is over for 2006, but check the website for upcoming requests for proposals.

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
www.sare.org SARE is a competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States.

Research and Education Grants:
Ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 or more, these grants fund projects that usually involve scientists, producers, and others in an interdisciplinary approach.

Professional Development Grants:
To spread the knowledge about sustainable concepts and practices, these projects educate Cooperative Extension Service staff and other ag professionals.

Producer Grants: Producers
apply for grants that typically run between $1,000 and $15,000 to conduct research, marketing and demonstration projects and share the results with other farmers and ranchers.

Other grant opportunities:
Graduate students, community development practitioners, and ag educators conducting on-farm research can apply for grants in some SARE regions.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation
http://www.wkkf.org/Grants/ See the site for specific grant requirements. Funding is available in several areas including health, food systems & rural development, youth & education, etc.

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania
http://www.ruralpa.org/ Grant Program One-year grants are provided to conduct applied research or identify local strategies that can result in legislative or program policy recommendations. Multiple-year projects may be financially supported for up to three years. However, grantees must submit annual proposals and must fulfill current year grant requirements. The maximum allowable grant award is $50,000 per year, per project.

Mini Grant Program
Mini Grants are awarded to projects that focus on basic data collection and analysis, time-sensitive issues, and/or the preparation of reference materials. Projects sponsored as Mini Grants are a maximum of nine months in duration and are eligible for a maximum of $10,000 in Center support.