Grants Available For Local Agriculture

Director of Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker hopes to draw attention to several grants that could benefit local efforts.

According to a recent release the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service invites proposals for the 2009 Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant program. The promotion program will award approximately $5 million in competitive funds for FMPP in Fiscal Year 2009. FMPP grants are available at levels not less than $2,500 and not more than $100,000; no matching funds are required. Proposals submitted for funding should be designed to assist in promoting, expanding, and improving domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.

Eligible entities for the 2009 FMPP grants include agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, nonprofit organizations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities, and tribal governments to consider developing proposals for this grant program. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Applications must be submitted to AMS and postmarked by April 27. For information on applying for FMPP grant funds, visit the website at www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp.

Ms Stocker also notes the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance 2009 request for applications, which applications are due at 5 pm, April 23. The Development, Community, and Environment Division in Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional, and state governments, and nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated a partnership with a government entity.

Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multiday visit from a team of experts organized by EPA and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA plans to assist three to five communities over a period of 12 months. The agency anticipates announcing the selected communities in the fall.

For more information and application materials, visit http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/

2009_sgia_rfa.htm.