Grants
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture - Marketing Grants
For use by both farmers and non-profit organizations!
DOAG: Farm Transition Grant Program is for farmers. Due November each year.
DOAG: Farm Reinvestment Grant Program is for farmers. Due April each year.
DOAG: Farm Viability Grant Program for Municipalities is for non-profits and municipalities. Due November each year.
DOAG: CT Grown Joint Venture Grant Program has been temporarily suspended. It is being revised. Please check back for status update!
Please note: All grant awards from the CT Dept of Agriculture are subject to funding of the program.
Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation Project
Historic barns in Connecticut may be eligible for a restoration grant. The Trust is trying to save some of the older (must be over 75 years old) barns in Connecticut. You will have to join the Trust to be eligible to apply for this grant.
Pre-applications are due December 1, 2012. The Trust will notify those applicants who will be asked to go forward with a full application by December 10, 2012. Full applications are due March 1, 2013. Please go to their website and read more about the grant: http://cttrust.org/
Sustainable Agricultural GrantsSARE
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/FGinfo.html
Also, a resource for our farmers looking to apply:
http://www.uvm.edu/~nesare/farmerhowto.pdf
Farm Aid - This organization has several programs to investigate. Family farms in crisis, dairy farms in crisis, and other information of value can be found at their site. Their mission is to strengthen family farm agriculture and to promote food from family farms.
http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723615/k.8748/Help_for_Farmers.htm
http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2750749/k.89E0/Family_Farmers.htm
Loans
Connecticut Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/ct/ offers a wide range of financial information and loan programs, including SBA Express Loan Program, SBA LowDoc Program, Microloan Program and Pre-Qualification Loan Program Intermediaries.
Equity Trust
The mission of Equity Trust is to promote equity in the world by changing the way people think about and hold property. One part of their work is a revolving loan fund assisting Community Supported Agriculture. www.equitytrust.org/
Farm Credit East
Farm Credit East is a single source for all of your financing needs. Loans for various purposes, flexible loan terms and top-notch customer service make us your one-stop shop for all your credit requests. For eastern Connecticut (Windham and New London counties and eastern Tolland), call: Lynn Weaver at (860) 779-0717. For central and western Connecticut (Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven counties and western Tolland) call: Keith Stechschulte at (860) 741-4380. For Fairfield County, contact Blane Allen at (845) 343-1802. For Litchfield County, contact Bill Martin at (518) 851-3313. For information on Farm Start, click here:
https://www.farmcrediteast.com/Products-and-Services/FarmStart.aspx
USDA - Farm Service Agency
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/
Please call your USDA-FSA Office, and ask for help. USDA-FSA offers several types of loans that farmers can apply for, including Beginning Farmer and Rancher loans, emergency loans, farm operating loans, and farm ownership loans.
NEW! There is the USDA-FSA Land Contract Guarantee Program. This is an opportunity for the right farm seeker to help purchase land from a land owner willing to do owner financing.
OLD BUT NEW!! FFA, 4-H, and other agricultural youth program sponsors: Don't forget to encourage your students to apply for USDA-FSA Rural Youth Loans. Contact your local FSA office for more information. They would like more participation in this program.
