Champions of NH Farms Grant Program

Champions of NH Farms Grant Program is sponsored by New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. This program provides funds to New Hampshire organizations to promote agriculture/natural resources and their missions to the public. It aims to support efforts that benefit New Hampshire agricultural products, industries, or commodity groups.

* Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program * Specialty Crop Block Grant Program * Champions of NH Farms Grant Program The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) is designed to build resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain in the Granite State and strengthen our local and regional food systems through the creation of new revenue streams in the areas of aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of local agricultural products.

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food has developed their RFSI plan to benefit NH farms and food businesses both directly and indirectly through grants, targeted technical assistance, and training with the goal of expanding capacity for processing, aggregation, and distribution of agricultural products to create more and better markets for producers; filling gaps in cold storage, transportation, and distribution for farms, food processors, and food hubs; increase access to cooperative commercial kitchens and/or other value-added product producing facilities; and increase processing for new products; increase branding and food safety through packing and labeling.

Funding for RFSI was made possible by a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. **The infrastructure grant phase of this program has closed. Awards will be announced upon final approval of USDA and Governor & Executive Council.

** **The application phase of this grant program is closed. ** Smaller simplified equipment-only grants offer a simplified application to fund smaller grants between $10,000 and $100,000 for equipment purchases.

The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000. No match is required for this grant type.

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) is eligible to receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the annual Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).

The NHDAMF offers eligible New Hampshire organizations the opportunity to apply for a portion of these funds under the New Hampshire Specialty Crops Grant Program to conduct projects that benefit New Hampshire Specialty Crops. Specialty Crops are defined as: fruit, vegetable, nursery, floriculture, herb, maple, Christmas tree and honey crops. For a complete list of eligible and ineligible crops visit the USDA AMS website.

#### 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant - released By USDA on April 14, 2026. USDA Notice of Funding Opportunity The Application Period is now closed. #### Starting in FY2027, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will require a cost share for all subawards.

Each subaward will be required to provide a cost share from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions equal to 25% of the amount of Federal funds being requested. This is NOT a requirement for this current NOFO but will start next year.

In addition, beginning in 2027, States will be required to provide up to 10% cost share to supplement and not supplant state funds with the Federal formula grant awards, consistent with the 7 U.S.C. § 1621 note (d)(3). These changes are 5 meant to increase the overall investments available to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops across the country at the Federal, State, and local levels.

Champions of NH Farms in a NH non-profit. The Champions of New Hampshire Farms grant program is established to benefit New Hampshire organizations. The intent is to provide funds to organizations to allow them to do some extra efforts to promote agriculture /natural resources and their missions to the public.

The applicant organization must have bylaws and have a federal tax identification number to receive funds. **Background:** The Champions of New Hampshire Farms is a federal not-for-profit organization (501 (c) 5 established to oversee the sales and promotion of New Hampshire food and products at the New Hampshire building at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Its primary activities are the sales of ice cream, corn on the cob, mac and cheese and other NH products, as well as the oversight of the NH General Store.

These activities provide an opportunity to return some dollars back to the state not only via vendors providing product, but through the volunteer groups who work at the NH Building and also to distribute grants to New Hampshire agriculture and natural resource organizations when there is a profit. **Purpose:** The Champions of New Hampshire Farms grant program is established to benefit New Hampshire organizations.

The intent is to provide funds to organizations to allow them to do some extra efforts to promote agriculture/natural resources and their missions to the public. The applicant organization must have bylaws and have a federal tax identification number to receive funds. New this year - There is new category - Marketing Package.

Champions has retained the services of a marketing consulting company who otherwise wouldn't be available for small projects, and you can apply for these services. You can describe the nature and purpose of your business and the consultant will tailor-make a package for you. **Funds:** Applications for amounts from $1,000 to $10,000 will be considered.

Funds will be distributed based on the number of qualifying entries. No matching dollars are required, but the organization must show an intent to complete the proposed project and meet the criteria set below.

Funds will be distributed to approved applicants based on their project’s acceptance by the Champions of New Hampshire Farms Board of Directors, and the funds will be available by June 1st of this fiscal year, with an expected completion of the project within one year of that date.

**Eligibility:** Applications will be accepted from organizations engaged in production, marketing or promotion of New Hampshire agricultural products, industries or commodity groups, as well as natural resource industries and products. An organization must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to be eligible to apply. Only one project may be submitted per group in a funding round.

Preference will be given to new efforts for the applicant to improve new and existing markets. Applicants should not decrease current commitments of overall funds for advertising and promotion. Funds should not be used for programs the applicant’s organization is already funding or to support routine operating expenses.

**Special Projects**- may include one-time program and investment (special equipment or facility upgrade to help create or increase value added products) for an organization. Or other projects related to merchandising, live demonstrations and point of purchase displays. Ineligible: No funds shall be used for administrative costs, salaries, or overhead.

Individual businesses are not eligible. If an organization has uncompleted projects from previous Champions of NH Farms grants, they will not be eligible for funding until those projects are complete and required reporting submitted.

Accounting: Grant recipients shall maintain an accurate record of their project activities and shall submit, upon completion of the project the following: • A financial statement summarizing expenditures (including copies of all paid receipts and cancelled checks) • A report on the promotion project and its results in terms of stated objectives • Copies of material produced, photos, etc. when feasible • Printed materials, websites, etc., should include the statement, “paid for, in part, with a grant from Champions of New Hampshire Farms” Criteria: Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria: • Need for project is adequately described and does not duplicate existing programs • Goals are clearly stated and budget clearly outlined • Project is innovative, practical and designed to increase public awareness Use the program application form to submit your proposal.

Submit your application via email to: Kathy Fisher, Executive Director, Champions of NH Farms at champsnhfarms@gmail. com, who will collect and submit proposals for the Champions of NH Farms board to review. _____________________________________________________________________________ Champions of New Hampshire Farms, PO Box 2374, Concord, NH 03302-2374