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USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that funds urban farmers, beginning farmers, historically underserved producers, and food entrepreneurs in Chicago. The program supports innovative agriculture projects that strengthen local food systems and expand access to fresh produce in urban communities. Awards range from $1,000 to $25,000.
Eligible applicants include urban and beginning farmers and food entrepreneurs operating in the Chicago area, with a priority focus on historically underserved producers. Applications are accepted with a November 30 deadline.
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# USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) * | Farm Service Agency A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Farm Service Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture * Resources Toggle sub menu for Resources * * Loans Toggle sub menu for Loans * Climate-Smart Agriculture and Farm Loan Programs * Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program * Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program (HFIL) * Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program * Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) * Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) * Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP 2024) * * Conservation Toggle sub menu for Conservation * Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) * Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) * Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) * Transition Incentives Program * Water-Saving Commodities (WSC) Program * * Disaster Recovery Toggle sub menu for Disaster Recovery * 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance * Disaster Set-Aside Program (DSA) * Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) * Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) * Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) * Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) * Emergency Relief Program (ERP) * Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) * Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) * Milk Loss Program (MLP) * Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) * On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program (OFSCLP) * Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) * Tree Assistance Program (TAP) * * Income Support Toggle sub menu for Income Support * Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) * Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) * Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) * Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) * Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program * Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) * Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) * Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) * * General Programs Toggle sub menu for General Programs * Certified Mediation Program (CMP) * Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program * Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program * * Outreach & Education Toggle sub menu for Outreach & Education * Partner Organization Resources * State Outreach Coordinators * * Price Support Toggle sub menu for Price Support * Loan Deficiency Payments * * Economic and Policy Analysis Toggle sub menu for Economic and Policy Analysis * Commodity Loan Activity Reports * Wool and Mohair Reports * Financial Management Information * * Initiatives Toggle sub menu for Initiatives * Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI) * Tools Toggle sub menu for Tools * * Decision-Making Toggle sub menu for Decision-Making * Emergency Livestock, Honey Bees, Fish * * Online Services Toggle sub menu for Online Services * * Informational Toggle sub menu for Informational * Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) * News & Events Toggle sub menu for News & Events * * Laws and Regulations Toggle sub menu for Laws and Regulations * Federal Register Notices * Federal Register Publications & Related Documents * Careers Toggle sub menu for Careers # USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) * [](https://www.
fsa. usda. gov/print/pdf/node/10373 "Download")[](https://www.
fsa. usda. gov/print/pdf/node/10373 "Print")[](https://www.
fsa. usda.
gov/news-events/news/05-08-2024/usda-innovative-agriculture-micro-grants-chicago-iam-chi# "Copy link") * SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 8, 2024 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency Outreach Office and Illinois FSA Office, in cooperation with University of Illinois Extension, announces an opportunity for urban farmers and producers, beginning farmers, historically underserved producers, and food entrepreneurs in Chicago, Illinois to apply for an IAM-Chi grant.
These grants are designed to fund innovative, forward-thinking, and novel projects to advance urban agriculture in Chicago. Grants must not trigger environmental assessments or evaluations. * Conservation practices which improve soil quality; * Cost-sharing for infrastructure and on-farm equipment; * Improvements in supply chain issues; and * Other innovative projects that support urban agriculture.
* Small, one-time allocations that will require verification of expenses; * Available from $1,000 (minimum) to $25,000 (maximum) in funding; * Awarded to eligible producers for projects that will be completed within 3 months; * First-come, first-serve competitive basis, beginning now until November 30, 2026; and * Available as soon as possible or within 2 months after grant submission if selected for funding.
Assistance is available for answering questions about the IAM-Chi grant application process. Applicants who are not able to receive funds in one year, may be considered for funding in a future year, depending on available funds. To obtain more information, please contact University of Illinois Extension at iam-chi-grant@illinois.
edu, and to download a grant application, please go to go. illinois. edu/IamChiGrant.
## For Farmers and Ranchers * Find Loans and Other Programs Stay up to date on the latest from FSA * Non-Discrimination Statement
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Urban farmers, beginning farmers, historically underserved producers, and food entrepreneurs in Chicago. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $1,000 to $25,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) are due November 30, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (USDA NIFA) is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR and STTR programs offer competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses for high-quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits.
The USDA NIFA SBIR/STTR program funds small business research in agricultural innovation with ten priority topic areas including precision agriculture, crop monitoring, food safety technology, animal health, plant genomics, sustainable forestry, rural broadband, and agricultural AI applications. Precision agriculture and crop monitoring consistently represent the largest funded topic cluster, including AI-powered technologies for variable-rate application, crop health assessment via remote sensing or ground-based sensors, automated scouting systems, and yield prediction models. The FY2026 solicitation targets technologies that improve agricultural productivity, food safety, natural resource management, and rural economic development.
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