Working Lands Enterprise Funding Opportunities are currently closed, but please check back in late summer of 2022 when Request for Applications for Fiscal Year 2023 will be posted.
Working Lands Funding Opportunity Cycle
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) offers funding opportunities to a variety of business structures encompassing forest, farm, and food enterprises. These include producer associations, farms, food cooperatives, business assistance provider organizations and more. The amount of funds available is determined each year through the state's annual budget cycle.
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: The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) convenes their annual symposium to strategize funding prioritization.
August-September: Agency staff conduct outreach and webinars to assist with the application process.
September-November: Request for Applications (RFAs) and Request for Proposals (RFPs) open and are typically posted 3-5 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 RFAs were released and closed. Unsuccessful applicants 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
Visit these pages to further understand specific funding opportunities and to access resources that can support your organization and application.