Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Accepting Applications for Two Grants

The Service Provider & Producer Association Grant is open now through November 5, 2026 at 2:00pm. The Business Enhancement Grant is now through December 10, 2026 at 2:00pm. These grants are for two different audiences, so you should only apply to one grant.

Service Provider & Producer Association Grant

The Service Provider & Producer Association Grant, which aims to provide business support services to Vermont agriculture, food, and forest businesses, and to strengthen Vermont producer associations in these sectors. This grant is for two types of applicants: 

1. Service providers, which are organizations that provide business support services to agricultural and forestry businesses.  
2. Producer associations, which are organizations founded and funded by Vermont businesses related to agriculture, food, beverage, forest, or fiber products.   

Service provider grant projects should provide direct services to support Vermont-based farm and forest businesses. Some examples of the types of services include business and financial planning, workforce development, and marketing support. 

Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members, or the project can be about association’s governance and operations. 

Up to $225,000 is available to award. There is no match requirement. Additional grant details: 

• $10,000 minimum award amount. 
• No maximum award amount.   
  • In FY26, ten Service Provider and Producer Association projects were funded with a total of $370,000 dollars available. In FY26, the majority of grant awards were under $40,000. Partial awards will not be readily offered in FY27.  
• Project length: 15 months (March 2027-May 2028) 

Find out more details on the Service Provider & Producer Association Grant page.  

Business Enhancement Grant

This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses/organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses/organizations, as well as agriculture or wood processing and/or distribution businesses can be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or product.  

Applicants can apply for grants $10,000 to $50,000 grants. There is no match requirement.  

To learn more about projects that have been funded in the past, there are lists of past awarded grants and along with stories about recent grant projects. 

The application portal is open from October 9th through December 10th, 2026 at 2:00pm. There is an optional applicant webinar on Wednesday, October 14 from 11:00am–12:00pm. There will also be weekly virtual drop-in question and answer (Q&A) sessions while the application is open. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in late February/early March 2027, and projects can begin in April 2027.      

Eligible project types are: 

• Infrastructure development   
• Equipment 
• Market development   
• Research and development   
• Workforce training and development  

Applicants should develop a specific project, including a timeline, goals, and budget in order to complete the application. Applicants will also need to submit business financial documents. Grant project planning assistance is available from on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Any food, food or wood processing, or food or wood distribution applicant must make their product sourcing clear in the application.  

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the minimum amount they need for project success given the limited funds available.  

More details about the Business Enhancement Grant, including full eligibility criteria and weekly Q&A information, can be found at: Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant.