2015 Farmers Market Promotion Program Grants

Approximately $13 million in competitive grant funds in fiscal year (FY) 2015 is available to be awarded through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) is a component of the Farmers Marketing and Local Food Promotion Program, which is authorized by the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3005). The goals of FMPP grants are to increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets...

All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.State Departments of Agriculture are eligible to if the State’s regulatory statutes identify the specific State Department of Agriculture as a regional farmers’ market authority.Eligible applicants include:1. 1. Agricultural Businesses: Business entities that provide, hold, deliver, transport, offer, process or sell agricultural products or services.2. Agricultural Cooperatives: Group-owned or member-owned entities or businesses that provide, offer, or sell agricultural products or services for the mutual benefit of their members. 3. Producer Networks: Producer group- or member-owned organizations or businesses that provide, offer, or sell agricultural products or services through a common distribution system for the mutual benefit of their members.4. Producer Associations: Organizations or other businesses that assist, represent, or serve producers or producer networks. 5. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Networks: Formal groups of farms that work collectively to offer consumers regular (usually weekly) deliveries of locally-grown farm products during one or more harvest season(s) often on a subscription or membership basis. Customers have access to a selected share or range of farm products offered by the group of farmers based on partial or total advance payment of a subscription or membership fee.6. CSA Associations: Organizations or other businesses that assist, serve, or represent CSAs or CSA networks.7. Local Governments: Any unit of government within a state, including a county; borough; municipality; city; town; township; parish; local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937; special district; school district; intrastate district; council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under state law; and any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-state or local government.8. Nonprofit Corporations: 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.9. Public Benefit Corporations: Corporations 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. 10. Economic Development Corporations: Organizations whose missions are to improve, maintain, develop and/or market or promote a specific geographic area. 11. Regional Farmers Market Authorities: Entities that establish and enforce regional, State, or county policies and jurisdiction over State, regional, or county farmers markets.12. Tribal Governments: Governing bodies or governmental agencies 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.

John Miklozek Acting Team Lead Phone 202-720-0933