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Agency: Department of Agriculture (DoAg)
Program Description:
The Department of Agriculture offers yearly $1 million in grants to farmers, nonprofits, municipalities, and regional planning agencies/council of governments for activities that will promote agriculture sustainability, farmland protection and increase the viability of farm businesses. Grants of up to $49,999 are distributed on a competitive basis. The Farm Transition Grant and the Farm Viability Grant are two equally funded grants, both a part of the Agriculture Viability Grants Program.
Eligible Applicants
To qualify for the Farm Transition Program the farm must be a registered business (permitting both owners and tenants of existing production facilities located within Connecticut), or an agricultural cooperative within Connecticut.
To qualify for the Farm Viability Program the applicant must be a registered 501(c) (3) agricultural nonprofit, a municipality, a regional planning association, a regional council of government, or an association of municipalities, specifically the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities or Connecticut Council of Small Towns.
Matching Guidelines
Farm Transition Program (FTP)
- Matching funds from the applicant must be at least 50% of the total cost of the project budget
- The applicant's match may exceed the required amount
Farm Viability Program (FVP):
- Matching funds from the applicant must be at least 50% of the total cost of the project budget
- The applicant’s match may exceed the required amount
- All applicants for FVP may use in-kind services for all or part of their match
- Applicants that are registered 501(c) (3) non-proftis must match at least 40% of the cost of the project budget; non-profits may use in-kind services for all or part of their match
Additional Requirements:
- All agriculture-related activities funded by the Agriculture Viability Grants must be consistent with the definition of agriculture as defined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-1(q).
- All producer applicants must provide a business plan along with their application.
- All non-profit applicants, municipalities and quasi-governmental associations working directly with municipalities must submit an end-of-year final report detailing grant-funded achievements.
- At end of project, all applicants must submit an itemized spread sheet detailing actual costs with copies of bills when applicable and in kind expenses attributed to the project.
- Most projects will have one year to complete their project.
- There are no restrictions on a grantee’s eligibility to receive funding in future grant funding cycles, however additional years of funding will be dependent upon grantee’s success in reaching prior benchmarks.
- All grantees conducting any sort of capital enhancement or improvement project must agree to a site inspection prior to final approval or rejection of his application. If approved, the grantee must agree to site inspections during the construction phase of the project.
- All grantees must agree to sign an agreement with the State of Connecticut, which includes provisions for recapture of any grant money if the Connecticut Department of Agriculture is not satisfied with the terms of the agreement. The Department of Agriculture reserves the right to reject any proposal. The grantee must complete the proposal within the time-frame set forth in the agreement.
Program Region: Statewide
Program Contact(s):
Ronald Olsen, Agricultural Marketing Representative
Bureau of Agricultural Development & Resource Preservation
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 713-2550
Fax: (860) 713-2516
Ronald.Olsen@po.state.ct.us
www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=1368&q=317242
Agency Profile
Agency: Department of Agriculture (DoAg)
Mission: To foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting and regulating agricultural businesses, protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources, enforcing laws pertaining to animals and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage and contribution to the state's economy.
Contact Information:
165 Capitol Avenue
Room G8A
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 713-2503
Fax: (860) 713-2516
www.state.ct.us/doag/
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