The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service announced April 5 it is providing $5 million in funding to Alaska, Hawaii and other territories to support small-scale agricultural operations.
The funding comes from the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, which was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and awards grants to through a non-competitive application process, according to a USDA news release.
“USDA is committed to supporting communities with significant levels of food insecurity and who import significant quantities of food,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in the release. “These Micro-Grants will help eligible states and territories increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food.”
The money aims to help small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations. While states and territories receive the funding non-competitively, they will competitively grant sub awards.
Applicants who are eligible include agricultural agencies or departments in Alaska, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the United States Virgin Islands, according to the release.
The USDA reminded the public applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET June 6. To receive funding, the applications will undergo an administrative review to ensure the proposed activities fulfill the purpose of MGFSP.
According to the release, The Agricultural Marketing Service offers help to new applicants in need of technical assistance during the process and offers tips on writing a successful application.
