The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced $5 million in funding available to Alaska, Hawaii, and certain U.S. territories to support small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. The Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) is authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) and awards grants to eligible states and territories through a non-competitive application process.
“USDA is committed to supporting communities with significant levels of food insecurity and who import significant quantities of food,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “These Micro-Grants will help eligible states and territories increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food.”
This funding supports small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations. States and territories that receive funding will then competitively grant subawards. Eligible applicants 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.
Application and Grant Eligibility
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 6, 2022. To receive funding, the applications will undergo an administrative review to ensure the proposed activities fulfill the purpose of MGFSP.
AMS encourages applications for initiatives that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. For grants intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.
For more information about grant eligibility and previously funded projects, visit the MGFSP webpage, or contact us at IPPGrants@usda.gov.
Technical Assistance
AMS offers technical assistance for new applicants to help walk them through the process and provide tips on writing a successful application. Contact IPPGrants@usda.gov for additional assistance from grants management specialists.
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