Resources for Working Lands Businesses

  • Notice of COVID Response & Recovery Services: 

    To support the resilience and long-term success of Vermont’s producers, the Viability Program is offering coaching to support businesses with urgent needs related to COVID-19. For more information, see our COVID Response & Recovery Support page.

    COVID RELIEF FUNDING & RESOURCES:

    Vermont

    • Viability Program COVID Business Coaching
      • Business coaching support on a variety of topics related to navigating COVID impacts.
      • May include: navigating relief programs, financial/cash flow planning, navigating marketing/sales transitions, and more.

    • Vermont Technical Assistance Grant - APPLY NOW! **Funds will be awarded on a first come, first served basis**

      • The Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) of Vermont will coordinate technical assistance to businesses and organizations impacted by COVID trying to adapt to new practices, retrofit their physical spaces, and access new technology.

      • Grants for technical assistance (TA) can range depending what services are needed.

      • Businesses seeking TA AND consultants interested in providing TA can sign up NOW.

      • ​Webinar recordings and applications available here: https://www.vermonteconomicdevelopment.com/cnpp

    • VT ACCD Economic Recovery Bridge Grant
      • To be eligible, a business must show a negative net income on 2020 taxes. Awards are the lesser of 3 months of eligible fixed expenses, or $150,000.
    • VT Utility Assistance
      • Currently available for renters as part of the state rental and homeowner relief programs.
    • VT Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP)
      • Rental assistance is currently available. Eligible applicants include renters who have a household income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) Vermont Income Limits. 
      • Assistance resources are available to help applicants as well as provide mediation services.
    • Vermont Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP)
      • Assistance program that provides funding to eligible Vermont homeowners to prevent home foreclosure and homeowner displacement. This can include assistance with overdue mortgage payments, homeowners association fees, property taxes, and/or utilities.
      • Applications are NOW available. Homeowners can check eligibility and apply here.
    • EMBRACE Microbusiness Grant
      • $5,000 grants available for businesses with 5 or fewer employees and household income at or below 80% of Vermont's median household income. Funding is on a first come first served basis.
      • Grants will also be available to start-up businesses opened after Dec. 31st, 2020 
      • Applications currently available. Eligibility and application info at: https://mbdp.org/embrace-grant 
    • Vermont Community Loan Fund - Recovery Loan
      • The Vermont Recovery Loan Fund provides financing to businesses and organizations, both for- and nonprofit, that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
      • Applicants must demonstrate revenue loss, temporary business shutdown, or an increase in expenses due to COVID-19 impacts to be eligible. Loans from $5,000 to $75,000 are available, with rates generally 0% for the first two years, and then fixed at 3%. Loans are available until funds are exhausted.
    • Dairy Margin Coverage Assistance
      • The Vermont Legislature has added a program to help dairy farmers with the premium payment for the 2022 USDA Dairy Margin Coverage Program. $2,600,000 will be provided for reimbursement of the Tier 1 level premiums paid by individual dairy farmers in Vermont. The deadline to sign up for Dairy Margin Coverage is March 25.
      • All interested dairy farmers are encouraged to contact their county USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office as soon as possible.
    • Vermont Farm Worker Housing - Forgivable Loan Program --  Applications due April 29th!

    Federal

    Note: These resources are not all specifically targeted toward COVID Relief, but support recovery efforts and resilience.

    • Meat & Poultry Processing Grants
      • Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP): Applications open! Due April 11, 2022.
        • The Request for Applications is open for Phase I Gap Financing Grants. This grant is open to both new and existing facilities with greatest near-term impact. Phase II funds available Summer 2022.
      • Meat & Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants (MPIRG): Applications open! Due May 24, 2022.
        • Grants for meat and poultry processing businesses to make improvements such as expanding existing facilities, modernizing processing equipment and meeting packaging, labeling, and food safety requirements needed to achieve a Federal Grant of Inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act, or to operate under a state’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment program.
    • USDA Value-Added Producer Grant - Application OPEN! Due April 25, 2022
      • Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, as defined in the program regulation, are eligible to apply.
        • ​​​​​Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product.
        • Examples of planning activities include: conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product.
        • Examples of working capital expenses include: Processing costs; Marketing and advertising expenses; Some inventory and salary expenses.
    • USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) - Applications OPEN! Due May 16, 2022
      • LFPP funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
      • Grants can be used for the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise or to improve or expand a food business that supports locally and regionally produced agricultural products and food system infrastructure by performing feasibility studies, market research, training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise. 
      • More information here.

    ADDITIONAL  RESOURCES:

    • VT Farm & Forest Viability Program Water Quality Grants
      • Grants up to $40,000 are available through VHCB's Farm & Forest Viability Program for on-farm, capital improvements that will benefit water quality.
      • Any farm with a gross income at least $15,000 or that is required to comply with Vermont's Required Agricultural Practices is eligible to apply. 
      • If you or a farmer you know is interested in applying, please contact Aaron Guman at Aaron@vhcb.org for more information.
      • DUE: Jan. 21, 2022

     

    • Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Award
      • Each month, this fund makes an award of $10,000-12,000 to a Vermont family farmer for a project that will improve farm viability.
      • Awards recognize farmers whose businesses are contributing to a resilient agricultural landscape and demonstrate environmental stewardship & innovation
      • Learn more and apply at vermontfamilyfarmeraward.org
      • Deadline: Jan. 26, 2022 for March, April, May & June awards.
    • VT Pay for Phosphorus Program (VPFP)
      • VPFP is a new outcomes-based program from the Water Quality division of VAAFM.
      • VPFP will provide performance-based payments to Vermont farmers for reductions in phosphorus losses from their agricultural fields.
      • Farmers have the flexibility to implement whichever conservation practices they know will work for their own operations each year. $4.9M is available for farms across four years.
      • Learn more at: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/VPFP
      • Application Deadline: Jan. 31, 2022
    • Farm First
      • Services to support farmers & family members experiencing a variety of challenges that cause stress; free of cost.
    • Value-Added Forest Products Permitting Assistance Grant
      • VT Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation has a grant available to pay for expenses associated with State and local permit application fees, project consultation costs, engineering and siting costs, and expert witness testimony necessary for permitting. Grants can pay for up to 50% of project costs and range from $500 to $5,000.
    • Viability Program Referral Guide
      • This Referral Guide provides details about the program and how to connect a farm, food, or forest entrepreneur with our services. It also includes links to resources for businesses who may not yet be a fit for the Viability Program's two-year advising program.