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. The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) meets each summer to decide which funding opportunities 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
Most grants expect a match equal to 100% of the grant request, meaning that for example an organization or business applying for a $25,000 should expect to contribute $25,000 in their own cash and/or labor.
Applicants can only apply to one WLEI grant during Fiscal Year 2024.
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.
The following Working Lands Enterprise Initiative funding opportunities will be available for Fiscal Year 2024:
|
WLEI Funding Opportunity |
Application Window |
Award Notification |
Award Size |
Match |
Eligible Projects/Expenses |
Eligible Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
September 6 – October 16, 2023 |
December 2023 |
$10,000-$25,000 |
At least 100% of the grant reqest; match waiver or reduction available within application |
Market development, Financial planning and accounting, Business succession planning, Manufacturing efficiencies or process flow, Business research and development, Workforce development |
Organizations that provide services to farm and forest businesses |
|
|
September 6 – October 16, 2023 |
December 2023 |
$10,000-$25,000 |
Market research and development, Leadership and staff development; Board training, refreshing by-laws, committee work, or strategic planning |
Non-profit associations of farm, forest, or local food businesses |
||
|
October 6 – November 20, 2023 |
January 2024 |
$15,000-$50,000 |
Market development; Research and development; Infrastructure, equipment, and supplies; Energy focused projects |
Farm, forest, or local food businesses |
||
|
December 8, 2023 – January 19, 2024 (pre-application phase) February 16, 2024 – March 25, 2024 (final application phase for those invted) |
May 2024 |
$50,000-$250,000 |
Farm or forest businesses that raise livestock, grow crops, tap maple trees, or harvest timber and that have been in business since January 2020 |
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|
December 8, 2023 – January 19, 2024 (pre-application phase) February 16, 2024 – March 25, 2024 (final application phase for those invted) |
May 2024 |
$50,000-$250,000
|
Farm, forest, or food businesses that use local products |
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|
January 12 – March 4, 2024 |
March 2024 |
Up to $15,000 |
No match requirement |
Diversifying farm products; Transitioning from one form of farming to another; Processing farm products; Developing an accessory on-farm business |
Farms that either operate 4 or more Farms registered as medium or large farm operations are NOT eligible. |
|
|
Winter 2024 TBD |
March 2024 |
$2,000 - $5,000 |
At least 100% of the grant reqest; match waiver or reduction available within application |
Planning, exhibiting, and selling Vermont products at out-of-state trade shows or virtual shows targeting out-of-state buyers |
Farm, forest, or local food businesses with 3+ wholesale accounts |