Working Lands Funding Opportunity Cycle
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) offers grants that support forest, farm, and food businesses. Grants also go to producer associations, business assistance provider organizations, and more. The state's annual budget process decides the amount of funds available each year. The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) meets each summer to decide which grants to offer for the coming year based on available funds and needs across Vermont.
July: State of Vermont Legislature and the Governor pass the state budget and approve appropriation to the Working Land Enterprise Fund (WLEF) for upcoming fiscal year.
June-August: WLEB convenes their annual symposium to strategize funding prioritization.
August-November: Agency staff conduct outreach and webinars to provide guidance on the upcoming application process.
September-January: Applications open and accept applications for about six weeks prior to application deadline. A group of subject matter experts and thought partners carefully review each completed application and provide a slate of recommendations to the WLEB.
November-April: WLEB makes final award decisions. Applicants are notified by email in the order that applications closed. Applicants that were not awarded receive feedback from the WLEB on their applications.
December-May: Agency staff work with awardees to finalize grant or contract agreements for awarded projects.
Working Lands Funding Opportunities
Applicants can only apply to one WLEI grant during Fiscal Year 2025.
In our efforts to reduce duplicative programming within the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), the WLEB will not fund water quality or soil health equipment and infrastructure projects that are eligible for funding under existing programs of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. For example, the Best Management Practices program funds manure management structures such as manure pits and bedded packs, the Pasture and Surface Water Funding program funds fencing, water systems and laneways for rotational grazing, and the Capital Equipment Assistance Program funds innovative conservation equipment such as manure injection toolbars, grain drills, and no-till planters. For more information on Water Quality focused funding opportunities, see the Water Quality Assistance Programs Overview.
In Fiscal Year 2025, a total of $1 million is available for grants. Applications will open throughout the fall and winter, with awards announced throughout the winter and spring. These awards should be for projects that you will start working on in spring 2025.
Unlike in past years, there will be no match requirement for these grants. Because funds are limited and these grants are very competitive, you should apply for the minimum amount needed for a project. Find details for each grant online at workinglands.vermont.gov.
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is offering three funding opportunities in FY 2025:
Service Provider & Producer Association Grant
- Application Window: September 20 – November 7, 2024
- Award Size: $10,000-$25,000 for local and/or pilot programs; $25,000-$75,000 for statewide programs
- Eligible Projects/Expenses:
- Service provider grant projects should provide direct or indirect services to support Vermont-based working lands businesses through technical assistance and other forms of support. Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members.
- Producer association grant projects may also relate to the development of the association itself in addition to or instead of providing the above services to members. Producer association grant projects can provide services to members and/or focus on association development projects.
- Eligible Applicants
- Organizations that provide services to farm and forest businesses
- Non-profit associations of farm, forest, or local food businesses
- Application Window: October 18 – December 12, 2024
- Award Size: $10,000-$50,000
- Eligible Projects/Expenses:
- Market development
- Infrastructure and equipment
- Workforce training and development
- Research and development
- Eligible Applicants
- Farms
- Primary/secondary forestry businesses
- Food businesses using ingredients grown in VT
- Application Window: Winter 2025
- Award Size: $2,000-$5,000
- Eligible Projects/Expenses: Planning, exhibiting, and selling Vermont products at out-of-state trade shows or virtual shows targeting out-of-state buyers
- Eligible Applicants: Farm, forest, or local food businesses with 3+ wholesale accounts