May
MDAR: USDA LAMP Grants, Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant, and SBA Drought and Disaster Deadlines
USDA Announces the Availability of $92.2 million in Competitive Grant Funding under the 2018 Farm Bill’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $92.2 million in competitive grant funding under the 2018 Farm Bill’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). The USDA will award $76.9 million under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMPP and LFPP) and $15.3 million under the Regional Food System Partnership Program (RFSP).
AMS will host webinars to help applicants understand the application process and requirements, including eligibility. For dates and registration instructions, visit the AMS webinars page. Next one scheduled for next Tuesday, May 25th.
Additional information can be found using the following resources:
- FMPP How to Apply: www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp/how-do-i-apply-fmpp-grant
- LFPP How to Apply: www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp/how-do-i-apply-lfpp-grant
- RFSP How to Apply: www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp/apply
Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant
The Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant is currently open through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. This opportunity will provide funds to established value-added dairy processors in the Northeast U.S. to access professional marketing and branding services to elevate their businesses. Projects funded by this grant will increase the exposure and promotion of regionally produced dairy products guided by marketing/branding professionals. Funded projects will increase consumer awareness of products, develop market channels and distribution opportunities to increase product placement, support innovative strategies to increase consumption, and/or increase business revenues. Established value-added dairy processors headquartered in CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT may apply.
Grant funds must be used to prioritize the grantee hiring a professional marketing/branding contractor to develop strategy and/or content. Additionally, up to 25% of the grant funds may be used to implement the strategy and/or content developed by the contractor.
Awards will range from $10,000 – $50,000. Total funds available for this grant round are $400,000. Deadline to apply: June 8, 2021
More information at: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/activities/dairy-marketing-branding-services-grant
SBA Deadline Approaching for Working Capital Loans in Massachusetts for Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations in Worcester County, Massachusetts of the June 14 filing deadline for federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) due to drought that began on Sept. 15, 2020. This county is eligible because it is contiguous to one or more primary counties in Connecticut. Details here.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts that June 14 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans due to drought that began on Sept. 15, 2020. The loans are available in the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Norfolk and Plymouth in Massachusetts. Details here.