 $7.5 million is now available through the USDA’s Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) and the Federal-State Marketing Involvement Program (FSMIP). Acer is a competitive grant program that funds projects which promote the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products.
FSMIP funds projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system. This competitive grant program supports state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate state agencies.
The Request for Applications (RFA), information about grant eligibility, and a list of previously funded projects are available on the Acer and FSMIP webpages. AMS will also be hosting webinars to help applicants navigate the application process and requirements. Sign up below or visit the AMS Grant Webinar page for more information.
 Starting in 2021, a cooperative agreement between USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Colorado State University, and the Food Corridor compiled data about the role of shared kitchens in communities across the U.S. and the food business owners operating out of these facilities. Six research briefs were published in September of 2022 and now, four case studies are published highlighting the following businesses:
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Chiknegg Kitchen – A shared kitchen and kitchen incubator in Goochland, Virginia.
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Hope and Main Kitchen – A food business incubator and kitchen in Rhode Island.
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Findlay Kitchen – A non-profit food business incubator in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing access to commercial kitchens, equipment, storage, and business support services.
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Pig and Plow – A food business in Northern Colorado that operated in a region that did not have access to a shared kitchen as a resource, illustrating unique challenges and successes.
This series of case studies highlights the role that shared kitchens are playing in economic development and the broader food ecosystem of the communities in which they operate. You can find more information on this project under AMS’ Local Food Research and Publications page under Shared Kitchen and Food Startups. For an additional project overview and list of full research briefs visit https://localfoodeconomics.com/shared-kitchens/.
As announced last month, USDA is now accepting applications for the FY 2023 Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to expand and strengthen local and regional food systems and increase the availability of locally grown agricultural products. Applications for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and Regional Food System Partnerships Program will be accepted until May 2.
Check out these useful resources or sign up to be a peer reviewer!
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Seeds of Success Stories - Read through projects from past Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) grant recipients. Explore the “Lessons Learned” section to learn things they wish they knew before and during the process.
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The LAMP Map Navigator - Curious about what’s going on in your state or across the U.S.? Use this map to navigate through projects and funding amounts per state since 2006.
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Upcoming Webinars - Visit this site to register for the RFSP Applicant Webinar (March 29) and any other upcoming events.
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Not Applying, but Want to Help? - Be a peer reviewer! Reviewers will help USDA select high-quality grant applications for funding.
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Each month, we’re highlighting the work of Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grant recipients.
 Regional Environmental Council Inc.
The Regional Environmental Council Inc. (REC) is a grassroots non-profit organization focused on bringing people together to create a just, sustainable, and equitable food system in Worcester, Massachusetts and beyond. To serve more people and grow their market capacity, REC applied for and received a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant in 2018 and expanded their mobile markets to two neighboring towns. This funding allowed them to provide fresh produce in more areas around Greater Worcester that include diverse, low-income, and food insecure communities. Their focus on fostering culturally appropriate and fulfilling food spaces also made them a pivotal organization for producing crops specific to ethnic foods and new farmer education. Learn more about their journey on our Seeds of Success website.
Upcoming Webinar - Using the Food and Agriculture Mapper and Explorer
 Are you applying for a local or regional food systems grant and looking to incorporate up-to-date local food systems data in your application? On March 30 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern Time (EST), AMS will host a webinar to explore and demo a new tool called the Food and Agriculture Mapper and Explorer (FAME), which brings together data from dozens of publicly available datasets to make it easy for food systems practitioners to search and visualize information about U.S. local and regional food systems.
Join this webinar to learn how to best make use of this resource and to learn more about the state of local food systems in a given area. There will also be a live question and answer session at the end. Visit this link to register today.
Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers
USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) will convene a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (ACMF) to consider USDA programs, services, and policies, and how they impact minority farmers.
The ACMF seeks to recommend action-oriented strategies that maximize the participation of minority farmers in USDA programs and services. The public meeting is scheduled for March 28-30, from 9-5 p.m. Mountain Time (MT) each day. The public is asked to pre-register for the meeting by March 27.
For more information visit the Federal Register notice and the ACMF Website. Register ahead here.
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Nationwide Farmer, Rancher & Forest Manager Prospective Customer Survey
Producers can now take a nationwide survey to help the USDA improve and increase access to its programs and services for America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest managers. The survey gathers feedback on programs and services available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
This is available online at farmers.gov/survey, and will be open until March 31, 2023. Please spread the word and share the link with your networks!
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Current USDA Funding Available
Rural Development’s Intermediary Lending Program
Application Due Date: Quarterly (March 31, June 30)
The Intermediary Lending Program provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities. USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity, and combat climate change. Learn more about RD’s Intermediary Lending Program on their webpage.
Rural Development's Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
Application Due Date: Applications accepted until funds are exhausted
The USDA RD Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution. Learn more on the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan program website.
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants Program (UAIP)
Application Due Date: March 27, 2023
The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. A pre-recorded webinar on Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants | USDA provides an overview of the grants’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for submitting an application. Visit the UAIP grant program webpage for more information.
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program
Application Due Date: March 31, 2023
This competitive grant program through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is intended to promote and strengthen the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Programs aim to attract outstanding students and produce graduates capable of enhancing the nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional work force. Visit their grants.gov page for a synopsis and application.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is a funding opportunity through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to help beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories enter and/or improve their successes in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands. This is accomplished through support for projects that provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to give beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability. For information and to apply, visit their grants.gov page.
Expanding Conservation Assistance to Underserved Producers
Application Due Date: April 27, 2023
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering up to $70 million in cooperative agreements with entities for two-year projects that encourage participation in NRCS programs, especially in underserved communities and among urban and small-scale producers. For more information and a link to the notice of funding visit the NRCS website.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Application Due Date: May 1, 2023
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. More information on this grant program can be found on the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program website, or through their grants.gov application page.
Local Agricultural Market Program (LAMP) Grants
Application Due Date: May 2, 2023
LAMP supports the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing; local and regional food markets and enterprises; and value-added agricultural products. It encompasses the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), Regional Food System Partnerships Program (RFSP), and Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG). LAMP funding is divided between these grant programs and USDA is now accepting applications. A Local Agriculture Market Programs Stakeholder Toolkit is available to help amplify the RFSP open application period among LRFS stakeholders. For more information on applications and eligibility, visit the LAMP webpage.
Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
Application Due Date: May 2, 2023
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) funds projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system. Eligible applicants include state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate state agencies (i.e., state universities, state colleges, or state governmental entities). Visit the FSMIP website for more details on eligibility and how to apply.
Acer Access and Development Program
Application Due Date: May 30, 2023
The Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) is a competitive grant program that promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. This program supports two project types: Market Development and Promotion and Producer and Landowner Education. The funding for each project type ranges from $200,000 to $500,000. For more information visit the Acer webpage and view past grants awarded here.
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