People’s Garden Grant Program, Deadline August 26

The National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) announces the availability of grant funds and requests applications for the People’s Garden Grant Program (PGGP) for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to facilitate the creation of produce, recreation, and/or wildlife gardens in urban and rural areas, which will provide opportunities for science-based informal education. This program is a joint initiative supported by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutritional Service, Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, in addition to NIFA. Successful applicants will provide micro-subgrant support to smaller local projects. This notice identifies the objectives for PGGP projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a PGGP grant. NIFA additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party for use in the development of the next RFA for this program. In addition, in order to answer questions that you may have concerning this RFA and the pending project, NIFA will host a teleconference on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). For those unable to participate in the call, NIFA will post a summary of the questions and the information provided to our website, http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/peoples_garden/peoples_garden.html. To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free (888) 858-2144; the access code is 1059897.

Estimated Total Program Funding:    $725,000
Award Ceiling:    $150,000
Award Floor:
CFDA Number(s):    10.500  —  Cooperative Extension Service
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:    Yes

  Eligible Applicants

  •     Independent school districts
  •     Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  •     Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  •     Private institutions of higher education
  •     Individuals
  •     For profit organizations other than small businesses
  •     Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:
Eligible applicants are State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, all colleges and universities, other research or education institutions and organizations, Federal and private agencies and organizations, non-profit organizations, individuals, and any other contractor or recipient. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the implementation of the project. An applicant’s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

People’s Garden Grant Program, Deadline August 26

Farm Market Promotion Grants, Deadline July 1

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced the availability of approximately $10 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2011 to be awarded through the Famers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The FMPP competitive program is administered by the Marketing Grants and Technical Services Branch (MGTSB), Marketing Services Division (MSD) of AMS and is designed to promote the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding direct producer-to-consumer marketing opportunities. The authorizing legislation for the FMPP includes the Agricultural Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3001-3006) and the recent amendment to the 1976 Act, the FMPP (7 U.S.C. 3005). The minimum FY2011 FMPP award per grant is $5,000 and the maximum is $100,000. An applicant is limited to no more than one grant in a grant-funding year. FMPP funding will be available for use beginning in October 2011. Project work should begin in October 2011 and end not later than October 2013. Matching funds are not required. Must follow the 2011 FMPP Guidelines for application instructions and requirements found on the FMPP website.

Eligible Applicants

1. Agricultural Cooperative. A group-owned or member-owned entity or business that provides, offers, or sells agricultural products or services for the mutual benefit of the members thereof.

2. Producer Network. A producer group- or member-owned organization or business that provides, offers, or sells agricultural products or services through a common distribution system for the mutual benefit of the members thereof.

3. Producer Associations. An organization or other business that assists or serves, represents, or serves producers or a producer network.

4. Local Government. – Any unit of local government within a State, including a county, borough, municipality, city, town, township, parish, local public authority, special district, school district, intrastate district, council of governments, and any other instrumentality of local government.

5. Nonprofit Corporation. Any organization or institution, including nonprofits with State or IRS 501 (c) status and accredited institutions of higher education, where no part of the net earnings of which inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

6. Public Benefit Corporation. A corporation organized to construct or operate a public improvement, the profits from which inure to the benefit of a State(s) or to the people thereof.

7. Economic Development Corporation. An organization whose mission is the improvement, maintenance, development and/or marketing or promotion of a specific geographic area.

8. Regional Famers Market Authority. An entity that establishes and enforces regional, State, or county policies and jurisdiction over State, regional, or county, farmers markets.

9. Tribal Government. A governing body or a governmental agency of any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community (including any native village as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 85 Stat. 688 (43 U.S.C. � 1602)) certified by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for the special programs and services provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

DATES: Applications should be received at the address below and must be delivered not later than July 1, 2011. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals and other required materials to the 2011 Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Room 4004–South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 20250–0269, phone 202–720–8317.

Farm Market Promotion Grants, Deadline July 1

Organic Farming Grants, Due June 12

Organic Initiative Special Sign-up Extended until June 12, 2009

The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Organic producers may also apply for assistance under general EQIP.

Under the Organic Initiative, minimum core conservation practices have been set nationally. The core practices are: Conservation Crop Rotation; Cover Crop; Nutrient Management; Pest Management; Prescribed Grazing; and Forage Harvest Management. In addition, States may add any appropriate practice that meets the resource concern on a particular farm.

Applications received from organic producers or producers in transition to organic farming will be accepted under this initiative until June 12. Applications will be ranked at that time. Please contact your GFA client rep for more information!

Organic Farming Grants, Due June 12