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First-come, first-serve competitive basis beginning May 2024 until November 30, 2026
USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) is a grant from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) with University of Illinois Extension that provides micro-grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 for urban agriculture-related projects in Chicago. Funding supports infrastructure improvements, conservation initiatives, and equipment acquisition for urban producers operating in the city.
This program is designed to strengthen the urban food production ecosystem in Chicago by helping small-scale and emerging agricultural operations access resources they need to grow. Applications are accepted through November 30, 2026, giving Chicago-area urban farmers and producers ample time to develop and submit competitive proposals.
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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.
* Find Loans and Other Programs Stay up to date on the latest from FSA * Non-Discrimination Statement
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Urban farmers and producers, beginning farmers, historically underserved producers, and food entrepreneurs in Chicago, Illinois. Projects must advance urban agriculture and be completed within 3 months of award. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $1,000-$25,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is November 30, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.