The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “Department”) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for Round 2 of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Competitive Grants Program.
Donor Name: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/15/2023
Size of the Grant:
- Component A: $50,000 to $100,000
- Component B: $10,000 to $50,000
Grant Duration:
- Component A: 2 years
- Component B: 1 year
Details:
To ensure a more resilient food supply chain, the State will fund the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. Grant funds must be used to increase farmers’ markets’ resiliency, which may be through the development and enhancement of the farmers’ markets’ infrastructure, online sales and/or delivery capabilities across the state. Projects to support this goal may include but are not limited to developing services, paying expenses, and managing the awarded project activities.
For the purposes of this grant, a Farmers’ Market is defined as any building, structure, or place, the property of a municipal corporation or under lease to or in the possession of a private or public agency, individual or business used or intended to be used be two or more producers for the direct sale of a diversity of farm and food products from producers to consumers and food buyers.
“Farm and food products” shall mean any agricultural, horticultural, forest or other product of the soil or water, including but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, fish and fish products, grain and grain products, honey, nuts, preserves, maple sap products, apple cider, fruit juice, wine, ornamental or vegetable plants, nursery products, flowers, firewood, and Christmas trees.
The objective of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant is to provide the opportunity to build long-term food system resiliency through New York State’s Farmers’ Markets. To enhance current food system resiliency through farmers’ markets, projects should include attempts to modernize the delivery of products; repair, replace or enhance market infrastructure; and/or develop or scale up outreach efforts. Applicants should justify how their project enhances or maintains systems that quickly recover food access, provide availability of edible farm products, or rebound when disruptions in normal food supply chains occur.
Funding Information
$700,000 is available for the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant – Round 2 Competitive Grants Program. These funds will be separated into two components: Component A and Component B. Applicants must specify which funding component they are applying for and may not apply for more than one component. Applicants may apply for only one grant per funding period, either individually or as a group. Requests for grant funding under $10,000 and over $100,000 will not be considered eligible.
- Component A: $400,000 will be set aside for larger markets (40 or more vendors) and regional partnerships between multiple markets. Regional partnerships must name a lead entity or individual for the application when applying. Awards in this track may range from $50,000 to $100,000 and may request up to two years of funding. Funding for the second year is contingent upon state budget approvals. Applicants that submit a two-year proposal will acknowledge the funding limitations in the project proposal and articulate their plan accordingly. Eligible Component A projects evaluated above the scoring threshold will be awarded funding until funding is exhausted or all eligible projects are funded.
- Component B: $300,000 will be set aside for smaller markets (less than 40 vendors), with awards in this track ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 not to exceed one year. Eligible Component B projects evaluated above the scoring threshold will be awarded funding until funding is exhausted, or all eligible projects are funded.
Project Period
- Component A projects must be completed within two years of the contract start date.
- Component B projects must be completed within one year of the contract start date.
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants must operate one or more farmers’ markets in New York State.
- Registered not-for-profit organizations (e.g., tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code)
- Local Municipalities
- Business improvement districts
- Public benefit corporations
- Indian tribal organizations
- Experience operating at least one farmers’ market prior to application
- Prequalification in the NYS Grants Gateway portal, if not exempt, on the date and time the applications are due.
Applicants must be registered and pre-qualified in the Grants Gateway. Applicants who are not registered or whose document vaults have expired will be disqualified.
For more information, visit NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.