Funding Opportunities for Indiana’s Farmers

Article 2

In the second article of this series we continue to provide information on available funds for Indiana farms as well as resources, webinars and educational opportunities that are designed to assist you in writing your proposals.

Resources for grant seekers

Grants.gov is a federal website that allows eligible grant seekers to find and apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL federal agencies. The website guides you through obtaining a DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number and registering at Grants.gov to apply and to track applications. Information can be found at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html;jsessionid=1Q2fTpQflTPB3hJQxmjWhGgyKGp0JG6nQnTRP4T99ZGQMTF5Fr8N

With regard to federal grants, an organization that wishes to apply must have certain information ready for the registration process. You first need to check with your Grant Administrator or Chief Financial Officer to see if your organization already has a DUNS Number and be registered with CCR.  The Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number is a unique identifier for your organization required by the federal government to track how federal grant money is distributed. DUNS Numbers are issued by Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not already have a DUNS Number you can apply for one free of charge at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do;jsessionid=71E19DF0A92180C69076106A9FC7B3EA

To register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), see: https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/

To ensure the electronic submission of your grant applications is secure, you will need to complete an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) profile and create a username and password.  To complete an AOR profile and create a username and password see: https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/

The Foundation Center is your gateway to information about private funding sources, the grant seeking process, guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and links to other useful Internet websites. The Center maintains a comprehensive database on foundations; produces print and electronic directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars. Their information is at: http://www.foundationcenter.org/

You will notice that some grants are only available to non-profit organizations. This does not necessarily mean that your project is ineligible. In these cases you may be able to collaborate with a non-profit who is willing to support your work and administer the funds.

Webinars

NIFA Grant Writing Webinar Series The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides helpful information for those wishing to write proposals. These and three (3) other grant writing webinars are available at: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/res/smallfarms_grant_webinars.html

Their list of available grants and recorded webinar sessions, include the following: 

Everything You Wanted To Know About Grants.gov 

This webinar will help you to navigate through the Grants.gov set-up process. This is a recorded webinar, sponsored by USDA NIFA and includes a representative from Grants.gov who provides step-by-step instructions about the registration process – and more!

Grant Writing Webinar – Developing Budgets, Logic Models, Evaluation Plans 

In this webinar grant specialists provide information about preparing a budget and determining matching/cost sharing allowances, developing a program logic model, and developing a comprehensive evaluation plan to document the project’s impact.  Farm to School Webinars

Through July 2014, the USDA Farm to School Program will host two webinars each month to showcase the variety of ways school districts can purchase local foods. The webinars will be held at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Topics will include procurement basics, using geographic preference, finding local producers, and buying local through DoD Fresh. Each webinar has been recorded and those held previously are available for viewing. They include:

Previous sessions:

Finding, Buying, and Serving Local Foods: Introduction to Procurement Conducting a Local Procurement Baseline Assessment Finding Local Producers Using the Informal Procurement Method Using Specifications to Target Local Products Working with Distributors Using a Forward Contract Introduction to Geographic Preference

Spring 2014 sessions:

Using Geographic Preference – May 8 Using USDA Foods as Resource to Purchase Local – May 22 Using DoD Fresh to Purchase Local – June 12 Tying It All Together and Digging In – June 26

To register for future webinars, or to access the January sessions, go to: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/webinars

Private Farm to School Grants

Annie’s Homegrown Inc.

These grants help start or improve K-12 school garden projects. Annie's will be offering two competitions this year, the spring round of grants has a May 31 deadline and the fall round will open in October. Details are

posted on their website. Last year, two types of grants were provided. "Getting Started: Funds for Your New Program" offered grants of $500 to start brand-new school garden programs and "Digging Deeper: Funds for Your Existing Program" offered grants of $1,500 to enhance current school garden programs.

For more information see: http://www.annies.com/giving-back/school-gardens/grants-for-gardens/

The American Honda Foundation

Eligible organizations are non-profit charitable organizations that are classified as 501(c)(3), a public school district or private/public elementary and secondary schools. The priorities for funds are youth education, specificallt in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathmatics, the environment, job training and literacy. Grants range from $20,000.00 to $75,000.00 in a one year period. Deadlines for the submission of proposals are four times a year: Feb., 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1. To apply online see: http://www.cybergrants.com/pls/cybergrants/quiz.display_question?x_gm_id=2587&x_quiz_id=1338&x_order_by=1

Government Farm to School Grants

The Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was created to ensure that children in lower-income areas can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. The program offers funding on a per-meal basis to organizations who provide meals to low-income children during the summer. Funds are available for sponsoring public or private non-profit schools, local, municipal, county, tribal or state government, private non-profits or private non-profit camps and private or non-profit universities or colleges. Sponsors must be able to provide a capable staff, managerial skills and food service capabilities. Sponsors must provide their own means, purchase meals through an agreement with an area school or contract for meals with a vendor.

The State agency reimburses SFSP sponsors on a per-meal basis for the meals served to eligible participants. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis. For more information see: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program-sfsp or contact:

Indiana NSLP, CACFP, SFSPState DirectorSchool and Community Nutrition Department of Education 115 W Washington StreetSouth Tower, Ste. 600 Indianapolis, IN 46204Phone: 317-232-0850Fax: 317-232-0855 

USDA’s New Farm-To-School Programs

These are new pilot programs that promise to place more local produce in schools. Starting next school year, these programs would provide local fruit and vegetables for at least five, and up to eight, pilot schools across the country, with at least one state in each of the five main regions of the country (the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest, the South, the West, and the Midwest). (The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the coming months.)

The new program carries forward a pilot that took place in 2011, in Michigan and Florida schools, where USDA purchased local lettuce, apples, grapes, oranges, carrots, and blueberries, and funneled them to schools through the state. See more at: http://civileats.com/2014/04/24/usda-pilots-new-farm-to-school-programs/#sthash.413ZmkBI.dpuf

Other Government Grants—State and Federal

Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant

This grant is for Indiana producers who grow specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture).  The funds can be used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to issues such as increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors; investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes; enhancing food safety; developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest and disease control through biotechnology; and development of organic and sustainable production practices.  These funds cannot be used for capital expenditures such as buildings, land, equipment, etc. that have a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds $5000), fringe benefits, grant administrative or indirect costs.  The 2014 application period is now open. The deadline is May 19, 2014. Information can be found at: https://secure.in.gov/isda/files/2015_SCBG_ISDA_Program_Guidance.pdf

USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

USDA is seeking applications from rural small businesses and agricultural producers for funding is designed to assist farmers in making energy efficiency improvements or to install renewable energy systems. This funding will help farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency technology into their operations. This funding has helped farmers expand renewable energy use in recent years.

USDA is accepting applications for:

Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan guarantee and grant combinations;

Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan guarantees; and Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grants.

Requests for grants may not exceed 25 percent of a project's cost – either for stand-alone grant requests or for grants combined with loan guarantees.

Information on how to apply for REAP funding and on the application deadlines (which vary by project type) is available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-05-05/pdf/2014-10054.pdf

Foundation Funding

Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc.

Average grant award is around $5,000 and funds can be used for computer and office technology of all kinds, specialized software to drive GIS mapping, GPS ground-truthing equipment, water-quality testing equipment, work tools and equipment including vehicles and boats, and educational materials. Applications can be sent in any time. More information can be found at: http://www.norcrossws.org/Foundation%20Infor/Foundmain.html

Surdna Foundation Grants

The Surdna Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the priority areas of Sustainable Environments, Strong Local Economies, and Thriving Cultures. There is no deadline for application. Information can be found at: http://www.surdna.org/grants/

The Captain Planet Foundation

These funds can be used by non-profit organizations to promote understanding of environmental issues by focusing on hands-on involvement.  Involvement of children and young adults 6-18 (elementary through high school) is required. Deadlines are: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 annually. Application information is at: http://captainplanetfoundation.org/online-grant-application-instructions/

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