$279,000
in grants for RI food and farming businesses
The
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reminds local farm
and food businesses that $270,000 in grant funding is available to support
small businesses and increase the competitiveness of local products in the
marketplace. The funding is part of the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) and Farm Viability grant programs – which, combined, have invested over $3 million to accelerate growth of Rhode Island's green economy.
LASA Grant
Program
Up
to $20,000 awards are available through the LASA grant program to help spur
growth of local agriculture, aquaculture, and seafood industries. Eligible
entities include new and small farmers, fishers, food producers, and
non-profits. Both program and capital projects are eligible for funding.
Priority is given to initiatives that:
1.
support the entry, growth, and sustainability of small or beginning Rhode
Island farmers, aquaculture producers, and fishers;
2. foster new collaborations or share new information among Rhode Island's food partners;
3. support new products or new sales channels for clearly defined markets;
4. enhance access to and availability of agricultural land for producers, including farm transition planning and implementation; or
5. address gap areas or implementation needs identified in Rhode Island's Food Strategy, Relish Rhody (www.relishrhody.com).
Now in its sixth year, LASA helps new and existing small businesses and food initiatives prosper in Rhode Island. To date, LASA has provided over $1.1 million – through grants up to $20,000 – to support the growth of Rhode Island's local food economy.
The state's food scene is often cited as an area of economic strength ripe for innovation and growth. Already, the local food industry supports 60,000 jobs, and the state's green industries account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the economy annually.
2. foster new collaborations or share new information among Rhode Island's food partners;
3. support new products or new sales channels for clearly defined markets;
4. enhance access to and availability of agricultural land for producers, including farm transition planning and implementation; or
5. address gap areas or implementation needs identified in Rhode Island's Food Strategy, Relish Rhody (www.relishrhody.com).
Now in its sixth year, LASA helps new and existing small businesses and food initiatives prosper in Rhode Island. To date, LASA has provided over $1.1 million – through grants up to $20,000 – to support the growth of Rhode Island's local food economy.
The state's food scene is often cited as an area of economic strength ripe for innovation and growth. Already, the local food industry supports 60,000 jobs, and the state's green industries account for more than 15,000 jobs and contribute $2.5 billion to the economy annually.
Up
to $120,000 is available for the 2019 grant round. For more information on the
LASA program or to apply, visit DEM's website.
Online applications are highly preferred and must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 8. The application is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GDCZX6C or on the RI Food Policy Council website's LASA page at: http://rifoodcouncil.org/lasa-grants-program/.
Online applications are highly preferred and must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 8. The application is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GDCZX6C or on the RI Food Policy Council website's LASA page at: http://rifoodcouncil.org/lasa-grants-program/.
Additional
information, including instructions for completing the application, is
available on DEM's website at
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/agriculture/documents/lasaguidelines.pdf.
Hand-delivered and mailed applications must be received by DEM's Division of Agriculture by 4 PM on March 8. Awards will be announced as part of Rhode Island's Ag Day celebration in the spring. Additional information also is available on the RI Food Policy website.
Hand-delivered and mailed applications must be received by DEM's Division of Agriculture by 4 PM on March 8. Awards will be announced as part of Rhode Island's Ag Day celebration in the spring. Additional information also is available on the RI Food Policy website.
Farm Viability
Grant Program
Grants
ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 are available through the Farm Viability Grant
Program, made possible by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty
Crop Block Grant Program.
These grants support local specialty crop production as well as efforts to grow the marketplace for these crops in Rhode Island. USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops, including floriculture and turf grass.
These grants support local specialty crop production as well as efforts to grow the marketplace for these crops in Rhode Island. USDA defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops, including floriculture and turf grass.
Eligible
entities include farmers or community groups engaged in research, marketing,
food safety/security, plant health, buy-local initiatives, and/or development
of cooperatives.
Projects will be funded for up to two years. Funded projects must support the broad competitiveness of locally-grown specialty crops in Rhode Island. Initiatives that benefit a sole commercial product or provide a profit to a single individual or group will not be considered.
A total of $150,000 is available for this grant round. To date, over $2 million has been invested through this program to support growth of specialty crops in Rhode Island.
For more information on the Farm Viability program, visit DEM's website. Applications accompanied by a W9 form should be mailed to DEM Division of Agriculture, Room 370, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 and postmarked no later than March 31, 2019.
Projects will be funded for up to two years. Funded projects must support the broad competitiveness of locally-grown specialty crops in Rhode Island. Initiatives that benefit a sole commercial product or provide a profit to a single individual or group will not be considered.
A total of $150,000 is available for this grant round. To date, over $2 million has been invested through this program to support growth of specialty crops in Rhode Island.
For more information on the Farm Viability program, visit DEM's website. Applications accompanied by a W9 form should be mailed to DEM Division of Agriculture, Room 370, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 and postmarked no later than March 31, 2019.
In
addition to these grant programs, DEM continues to work across many fronts to
strengthen Rhode Island's green economy and assist local farmers in growing
their businesses.
Rhode Island is home to a thriving young farmer network, ranking second nationally in percent of farms owned by beginning farmers. And the state is one of few nationally where the number of farms is on the rise.
There are more than 1,200 farms in Rhode Island – an increase of 44 percent from 2002. DEM continues to make investments in critical infrastructure as well as provide farm incubation space to new farmers through its Urban Edge Farm and Snake Den Farm properties.
Rhode Island is home to a thriving young farmer network, ranking second nationally in percent of farms owned by beginning farmers. And the state is one of few nationally where the number of farms is on the rise.
There are more than 1,200 farms in Rhode Island – an increase of 44 percent from 2002. DEM continues to make investments in critical infrastructure as well as provide farm incubation space to new farmers through its Urban Edge Farm and Snake Den Farm properties.
Local
seafood is poised to spur the next wave of food-based economic growth. In
partnership with the Seafood Marketing Collaborative, DEM developed the RI
Seafood brand to uniquely identify Rhode Island seafood in the marketplace and
help local fishermen and distributors grow their businesses.
In 2016, more than 106 million pounds of seafood arrived at Rhode Island ports, with an export value over $1 billion. For more information on Rhode Island seafood, visit www.seafoodri.com.
In 2016, more than 106 million pounds of seafood arrived at Rhode Island ports, with an export value over $1 billion. For more information on Rhode Island seafood, visit www.seafoodri.com.
For
more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow
us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter
(@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.
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