NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program will offer a new round of grants Oct. 15th, 2024

NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program is an NC State Extension program that provides grants to NC family farms to implement agricultural projects that will increase farm profits.

Producers in the following counties are eligible to apply:

Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth,, Gaston, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Martin, Mecklenburg, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, Wilkes, Warren, Yadkin   ((Click on this link if your county is not listed click on this link.))

Who is Not Eligible?

***Grant recipients from the current year are asked to skip a year.
***Grant recipients that have received three NC AgVentures grants are not eligible to apply.
***Extension agents and their spouses and/or partners are not eligible to apply for a personal farmer grant.
***NC State Employees are not eligible to apply.
***One Application per farm
***Married couples, domestic partnerships and business partners may only submit one application.

Two Grant Options

1. Individual Farmer grants for independent family farms
2. Community Grants for local non-profit community organizations such as
   NC State Extension, farming associations, farmer co-ops, farmers markets

Priority will be given to:

Applicants that are current/former tobacco growers, former quota holders, tobacco workers or close family descendants.

Farms that have not received previous grant awards will be given a higher priority.

Applicants that earn at least 50% of their gross personal income from their farm operation.

Proposals that present a new direction or innovative opportunity, a kind of pilot project that other farms can learn from.

Your Extension Agent is your partner on the application

• If you have not worked closely with your Agent, invite them to visit your farm so they can better assist you with your project proposal.
  
• If you are not working with an Agent contact your local Extension office and speak with County Extension Director about your project goals.
• Contact your Agent early to schedule a time to consult on your project proposal, and review your application.
• FIND YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE

Criteria for evaluating the applications:

• Does the project proposal show a good potential for success?
• Does the grant proposal incorporate Extension Best Practices?
• Will your project increase income relative to project cost?
• Will the project increase or maintain employment opportunities?
• Has the proposal been adequately researched and is well detailed?
• Does the project plan include strategies to protect soil, water, crops and food products from contamination?
• Is the budget realistic?
• Does the applicant have the skills to complete the project?
• Does the project present a new direction or opportunity?
• Will the project become self-supporting?
• Will any other farmers in your region benefit from the project? 
• How will you make your project, and the information you gain from it, available to others?
• Budget total for your project must be at least 15% higher than the requested award amount.

Grant Winner Responsibilities:

• Arrange a time for your Extension Agent to visit your farm. Your Agent should continue to be a resource and technical advisor throughout the year as you work on your grant project.
• You need to have insurance that will cover the activities of the grant project.
• Provide copies of receipts and photos to document grant project expenditures
• Provide two grant reports, including income and expenses and a program survey
• Grant recipients must be available by email or phone throughout he year. Email access is very helpful.
• Recipients will recognize NC AgVentures and North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission as the funders/supporters of the project in all materials/marketing/advertising used to promote the project.
• Attend a grant winner’s orientation meeting.
• Allow Extension to include the recipients’ projects in public relations, outreach, demonstration and education in future years
• Complete the project in 12 months

Application Workshop Presentation Slides

APPLICATION PORTAL 

We are not accepting applications at this time.

Submittable is the name of our online application submission system.

If you having trouble logging into the application: Please reach out to Submittable’s Customer Support team with any technical questions at support@submittable.co

Contact the Program Coordinator for application questions. (jackie_miller@ncsu.edu)