Apply for the Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets There’s still time to apply for the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Business Enhancement Grant!

This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses and organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses and organizations, as well as agriculture or wood processing and/or distribution businesses may be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or products.

Applicants can apply for grants of $10,000 to $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement.

Check out the Request for Applications for more details. There will be weekly virtual drop-in Q&A sessions throughout the application period.

Apply by December 12th

Fairs & Field Days Grant Application Now Open

The application for Fairs & Field Days Capital Grants and Operational Stipends is now open!

Vermont agricultural fairs and field days operating a minimum of three consecutive, eight-hour days per year are encouraged to apply. Find more details in the Request for Applications.

For more information about these funding opportunities contact Selina Rooney at [email protected] or 802-522-7811.

Apply by December 15th

New Filing Requirement for Incorporated Businesses

If your business, including farm and food businesses, is an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp, you are now required to submit a Business Ownership Information (BOI) Report to the U.S. Treasury by December 31, 2024. This filing ensures transparency in business ownership.

Missing the deadline could result in fines of $500+ per day starting January 1, 2025. Make sure you have details ready for all individuals who own or control 25% or more of the business. Start your filing now to avoid penalties!

Learn more

Assistance for Flood Damage to Farmland & Forests

The USDA Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) are both open for Washington, Chittenden, Essex and Caledonia counties.

These programs can help restore farmland or non-industrial forest that suffered damage during this past July’s flooding and severe storms. The assistance is in addition to the financial support that was available to businesses through the BEGAP program.

If you’ve suffered a loss from the flooding or severe storms, contact your local FSA County Office and request assistance before December 20th (Caledonia and Essex) or December 23rd (Chittenden and Washington).

Find Your Local FSA Office

Paid Survey about Farmers’ Values

Farmers, you can earn a $99 gift card for completing a survey about your values and how those values inform how you farm and tend your land.

Your participation will inform a study by the Food Systems Research Center at the University of Vermont that seeks to understand what values motivate farmers, and how much they are able to make decisions that reflect those values. They also seek to understand what enables farmers to live out their values or what prevents them from doing so.

Participation is voluntary, and responses will be kept confidential. Completing the survey will take about 60 minutes. At the end, participants will be compensated with a $99 gift card.

Take the Survey