This grant is closed for applications. Check back in fall 2025 for the next round!
Key Documents
How to Apply
-
Review the full Request for Applications for the complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.
- Register in WebGrants (may take up to two business days).
- Visit the Working Lands application frequently asked questions for resources and to get support on your application.
- Complete your application in WebGrants using our Application Guide.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- October 18, 2024: Request for Applications (RFA) released and application opens for submission
- October 24, 2024 11am-12pm: Applicant webinar with Q&A. View the recording and slides.
- Application Drop-in Q&A: Virtual drop-in Q&A is available to discuss eligibility questions, clarifying questions about the application, and questions about using WebGrants. During any of the times listed below, use this link to join the meeting on Microsoft Teams or dial by phone at 802-828-7667, 214399072#.
- Monday, October 28, 3-4pm
- Friday, November 8 & 15, 10-11am
- Tuesday, November 26, 3-4pm
- Thursday, December 5 & 12, 10-11am
- December 12, 2024: Application deadline
- Late February 2025: Applicants notified of funding decisions
- March 2025: Grantee documentation due
- April 2025: Estimated project start date
Grant Overview
- Award amounts $10,000 - $50,000
- $620,000 is available to award
- Project types:
- Infrastructure development
- Market development
- Research and development
- Workforce training and development
- Purchase of land or animals are NOT eligible. Farmworker housing projects are NOT eligible.
- WLEB will NOT fund water quality or soil health equipment and infrastructure projects that are eligible for funding under existing state programs. For more information on Water Quality focused funding opportunities, see the Water Quality Assistance Programs Overview.
- Starting in FY 2025 (the fall 2024 grant round), there is no longer a match requirement for this grant. If you apply for a project that costs more than the grant amount you are applying for, you must demonstrate that you can pay for the parts of project that grant funds won't cover.
- Applicants should expect to include business financial statements in their application, including a profit & loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Details about the timeline each statement should cover, along with sample statements will be outlined in the application.
- Applicants are not required to submit a business plan, but applicants that have a business plan are welcome to submit it.
Applicant Eligibility
This grant is for Vermont working lands businesses/organizations, which include farm and forest products businesses. Some food businesses/organizations, as well as agriculture or wood processing and/or distribution businesses can be eligible if they meet the requirements below. Any food, processing, or distribution applicant must make their Vermont product sourcing clear in the application.
Due to limited funds available, this year the Business Enhancement Grant is focused on working landscape businesses producing food, fiber, and forest/wood products. Please see the bullets below for further eligibility guidelines. If more funds are available in future years, agricultural businesses and projects related to non-food and fiber products may be eligible for funding.
Eligible Applicants
- Farms within agricultural sectors producing food (for animal or human consumption) and/or fiber products: hay and forage crops; hemp grown outdoors for fiber or ingestible CBD products; herbs; honey; hops; fruit; legumes; livestock for dairy, meat, and/or fiber; poultry; maple; nut trees; mushrooms grown outdoors; vegetables; and viticulture. Any size farm in these sectors is eligible.
- Logging businesses, sawmills, firewood producers, or any other primary forestry business that uses Vermont-grown logs, pulpwood, veneer, wood chips, bark, pilings, etc.
- Wood product trucking and distribution businesses that transport Vermont-produced wood products.
- Value-added food and fiber businesses that source at least 50% of raw ingredients grown in Vermont OR are applying for a Working Lands grant to significantly increase use of ingredients grown in Vermont.
- Agricultural product trucking and distribution businesses that transport Vermont-produced food and/or fiber products.
- Retail businesses that primarily sell Vermont-produced food and/or fiber products.
- Secondary wood businesses, such as woodworkers or manufacturers, pellet mills, etc. Secondary wood businesses that source more wood from Vermont will receive higher scores than those that do not source wood from Vermont.
Applicant organizations/businesses must be based in Vermont. Businesses or organizations headquartered outside of VT may be eligible if the project or service being proposed is 100% focused on Vermont’s working landscape and businesses. Please contact Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov to discuss eligibility for out-of-state applicants.
All structures are eligible (e.g., Partnerships, Limited Liability Corporations, Sole Proprietorships, Cooperatives, Corporations, S Corporations, L3Cs, B Corporations, and/or non-profits that are involved in the support of production of agriculture and/or forest products).
All legally incorporated enterprises must be registered with the VT Secretary of State. Sole proprietors using a business name other than their own name must have their assumed business name (formerly known as a trade name) registered with the Secretary of State.
Ineligible Applicants
- Because this grant is focused on food and fiber agricultural products, projects related to the following sectors are NOT eligible: cannabis; Christmas trees; equine; flowers; hemp grown for topical CBD products; and horticulture crops.
- Businesses that exclusively grow food or other agricultural products indoors (such as hydroponics, aquaculture, or indoor mushroom production) are NOT eligible. These business types often are eligible for other grants or services, so please review the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets grants and the additional grants and financial assistance pages.
Eligibility of Past Grant Recipients for FY25 Business Enhancement Grant
Not eligible
- FY24 Working Lands Business Enhancement Grantees
- FY24 Small Farm Diversification & Transition Grantees
- FY24 Agriculture Development Grantees
- FY23 or FY24 ARPA Primary Producer Impact Grantees
- FY22, FY23, or FY24 Supply Chain Impact Grantees
- FY22 Meat Slaughter & Processing Development Grantees
Eligible
- FY23 or earlier Business Enhancement Grantees
- FY22 or earlier Standard Business Grantees
- FY21 or earlier Supply Chain Impact Grantees
- FY20 COVID-19 Business Response Grantees
Program Contact
Clare Salerno
clare.salerno@vermont.gov
(802) 917-2637