March
31 deadline set for Specialty Crop Grant applications
The
RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that $150,000 in farm
viability grant funding is available for projects that enhance the
competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Rhode Island.
The
funds are from the US Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant
program.
Specialty
crops are defined by this federally supported program as fruits and vegetables,
dried fruit, tree nuts, and nursery crops including floriculture including
Christmas Trees, cut flowers, honey, hops, and turf grass production.
Grant
awards will range from $10,000 to $40,000 with no direct match required.
Funds
may be used for research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement,
food safety, food security, plant health, product development, education,
"buy local" initiatives, and for programs that provide for increased
consumption and innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of
distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, and development
of cooperatives.
"This competitive grant program will help strengthen markets for Rhode Island specialty crops and support local farming and food businesses," said DEM Director Janet Coit.
"Consumer
demand for locally-grown products is strong and is spurring growth in our
state's farming industry. We encourage farmers and others working to promote
the long-term viability of locally-grown fruits, vegetables, nuts,
horticulture, and nursery crops to apply for this exciting funding
opportunity."
Eligible
entities include Rhode Island farmers, residents, 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.
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, 2020.
Grant-related
questions should be directed to Peter Susi, deputy chief of DEM's Division of
Agriculture at 222-2781, ext. 4517 or peter.susi@dem.ri.gov.
DEM
awarded $170,421 in farm viability grants last fall to four Rhode Island-based
groups for a wide range of purposes, such as increasing consumption of specialty
crops through a series of in-classroom education, cooking, and tasting programs
and garden programs for students, parents, teachers, and staff; providing
training and support for organic farming methods on specialty crop farms;
developing a system for organic hop and rhizomatic crop production and farmer
training; and supporting the promotion of saffron as an extremely high-value
crop for Rhode Island agriculture.
DEM
continues to work across many fronts to benefit and strengthen Rhode Island's
green economy and to assist local farmers and fishers in growing their
businesses.
There
are more than 1,000 farms sprinkled across the state and Rhode Island is home
to a thriving young farmer network. 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.
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.
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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