AUGUSTA — Maine Farms for the Future grants are available from the state for both business plan development and improving farm vitality. The deadline for requests for proposals is Oct. 8. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources offers the grants, which include Phas 1 business devvelopment and investment support, and Phase 2 farmy vitality, which is defined as an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth. Information can be foound at www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants. Scroll down to Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry – Maine Farms for the Future Program.
To be eligible for a Phase 1 grant of $6,000 to research and develop a business plan, an applicant must:
* be a private, for-profit company that is owned by individuals, partners or corporations, that grows or produces agricultural products for commercial sale (excluding marijuana farms, except as permitted under 7MRS Ch.406A, Section 2231);
* own and operate a farm business that has been producing agricultural products commercially in Maine for at least two years at the time of application;
* have ownership of the land that is being farmed or be a partner or shareholder in a legal entity that owns the farmland; or if the farmland has been purchased recently, provide evidence of at least two years of experience operating a commercial farm operation elsewhere in Maine;
* have state certification or licensure as required for their type of agricultural operation, i.e. Nutrient Management Plan, Commercial Kitchen License, Milk License, etc.
To be eligible for a Phase 2 cash grant and/or the low interest rate through the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund, the applicant must be a “Selected Farm,” which is a farm that was previously selected for and completed Phase 1 between Jan. 1, 2000, and June 24, 2019, and satisfy all other eligibility criteria and match requirements listed in the Phase 2 application form.
Applications must be submitted to the state via e-mail, to Proposals@maine.gov.
Application submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 8, when they will be opened at the Burton M. Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall St., fourth floor.
