NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program is one of three programs to offer cost-share grants to NC family farms to diversify, expand or enhance their agricultural operations. Together these programs provide a grant opportunity to all 100 counties in the state.

Please review the list below to find the county in which your farm is located. Use the links or contact information provided to obtain the guidelines for the program that works with your county. (All three programs are sponsored by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.)

WNC AgOptions provides grant awards to farms in the following counties:
Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Clay, Cherokee, Cleveland, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (projects on tribal land), Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey. If your farm is located in one of these counties please visit the WNC AGOptions (West NC Communities) website for grant information and guidelines.

UMO AgPrime (University of Mount Olive) provides grant awards to farms in the following counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Gates, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, Montgomery, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington:
Contact the AgPrime program coordinators for grant information: Stan Dixon at 252-526-1587 or Ed Emory at 910-290-1002.

NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program provides grants to farmers in the following counties: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth,, Gaston, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Johnson, Lincoln, Martin, Mecklenburg, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, Wilkes, Warren, and Yadkin. If your farm county is part of the NC AgVentures group please scroll down to see our grant guidelines.

Guidelines for the NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program:

NC AgVentures is an NC State Extension grant program that provides grants to family farms, and local non-profit community organizations to develop agricultural projects which will increase farm profits. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their operation.

There are two grant options:

The first option is a Farmer Grant for independent family farms with an established farm operation. Some previously approved projects have included the purchase of equipment that will cut labor costs, constructing a farm store or produce packing shed, or kitchen equipment for preparing value-added products. The grant funds cannot be used to purchase land or animals.

The second grant option is a Community Grant for local non-profit community organizations and government organizations that work with local farms. Some examples would include a Farmers Market that could use the funds to expand the market or purchase SNAP equipment for sales, a Livestock Association could use the award to purchase portable cattle handling equipment to be rented by farm members.

Highlights for both grants:

• Awards up to $8000
• Grant awards are taxable income
• Grant recipients provide 15% of the total project cost (cash, not in-kind)
• Grant applicants must work with an Extension Agent on the project proposals for farm grants
• Grant recipients should have insurance that will cover the activities of the grant project.
• Grant recipients will be asked to provide two project reports that include receipts and photos to document grant project expenditures.
• All applications must be submitted through the online application submission portal.

Application:

There are four sections in the application. 

1. Contact Information
2. Farm Information about the current farm operation and producer experience
3. Project Description: (What you plan to do with the grant award)
4. Project Viability and Budget
5. Sample application for Farmer Grants
6. Sample application for Community Grants

Only one application per farm:

• We understand there may be more than one business on a farm, but you can only submit one farm application per year.
• Married couples or domestic partners with separate farm operations may submit only one application.

Who is not eligible?

• Grant recipients from 2023-2024 cycle must wait a year before they can submit another application.
• Farms that received 3 or more grants from NC AgVentures are no longer eligible.
• NC State Extension Agents, their spouses or partners are not eligible to apply for personal grants. Agents can write a Community Grant for the Extension office.
• NC State Employees are not eligible to apply for personal grants.
• For profit organizations are not eligible

Application Review:

Proposals are reviewed by NC State Extension Agents, farmers and other experts who are familiar with agriculture, agribusiness, and the local community. Each application receives two reviews. Applications will be ranked according to a numerical scoring system that evaluates the strength of the project to meet the grant priorities and criteria. Grant awards are announced at the end of February.

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 in the region?
• Will the project become self-supporting?
• Will other farmers in your region benefit from the project?
• Budget total for the project must be at least 15% higher than the requested award amount.

Priority will be given to: (this does not affect eligibility)

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

Farms that have not received previous funding from NC Tobacco Trust Commission, RAFI or NC AgVentures.

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

Proposals that present a new direction, a pilot project that will benefit other farms in the community.

Your Extension Agent is your Collaborator on the application proposal

• 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

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

Register for an Online Information Workshop

We will provide an overview of the grant program and the application. We are offering three workshops. Choose a date that fits your schedule, the presentation is the same at all 3 workshops. You can participate through your laptop, phone or tablet. You may register for more than one workshop. Register

You can also watch a video of the workshop from Oct. 23.

 VIDEO RECORDING OF THE APPLICATION WORKSHOP

To Apply:

We are accepting applications now. The deadline to apply is Dec. 13th at 6 p.m.

To access the application portal please click on the link:  Apply for an NC Agventures Farm Grant.