Submit Applications for Service Provider and Producer Association Grants (US)

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) and the Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB). WLEB’s vision is that their shared working landscape is the foundation of Vermont’s evolving culture, vibrant economies, healthy ecosystems, and sense of place. WLEB’s mission is to make strategic investments and develop policy recommendations that support a sustainable farm, food, and forest economy in Vermont.

Funding Information

• Grant amounts:
  • $10,000-$25,000 for pilot projects (a new initiative or one begun in the last 1-2 years) OR projects that serve a specific region of VT
  • $25,000-75,000 for projects that operate statewide
• No matching funds are required for this grant.
• 15 month grant period (March 2025-June 2026)

Eligibility Criteria

• This grant is for two types of applicants:
  • Service providers, which are organizations that provide business support services to agricultural and forestry businesses. The specific types of services eligible for funding are outlined later in this section.
  • Producer associations, also known as trade associations, industry trade groups, or business associations, are organizations founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. Vermont-based producer association groups that represent and promote Vermont agriculture, food, beverage, forest, or fiber products are eligible to apply.
• Service provider grant projects should provide direct or indirect services to support Vermont-based working lands businesses through technical assistance and other forms of support. Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members. These services include:
  • Market development, marketing plans, and sales
  • Business and financial planning
  • Business responses to COVID-19, flooding, and/or other crises
  • Succession planning for next generation business owners
  • Access to capital
  • Manufacturing efficiencies or process flow
  • Business research and development
  • Workforce development
• Producer association grant projects may relate to the development of the association itself in addition to or instead of providing the above services to members. Association development projects may include:
  • Leadership and organizational development: Organizational governance, leadership development, strategic planning, selecting appropriate legal structure, leadership transition support/succession planning
  • Governance: Board training and capacity building, by-law development, committee work, staff recruitment and/or training, web/communications capacity building
  • Membership development: Member recruitment and outreach, networking across businesses, communication development, member skill building and exchanges, development of digital portals or tools for members
  • Network building and collaboration: Initiatives that support collaborations between producer associations for improved efficiency and organizational sustainability
• Applicant organizations/businesses should be based in Vermont. Businesses or organizations headquartered outside of VT can be eligible if the project or service being proposed is 100% focused on Vermont’s working landscape and businesses.
• All organizational structures are eligible.
• Applicants that previously applied for and/or received funds from a Working Lands grant or contract can re-apply for funding. Applicants who are current or previous grantees must explain whether the proposed project builds on previous work or is a separate project, as well as demonstrate how continued funding will be used to grow or improve the program. Services must be provided to a new cohort of businesses for each funding period.

For more information, visit Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.