Working Lands Enterprise Initiative- Business Enhancement Grant

Working Lands Enterprise Initiative- Business Enhancement Grant is sponsored by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. Supports Vermont's agricultural, forestry, and food sectors by funding projects that enhance productivity and marketability.

Request for Applications (RFA)- sample from past round WebGrants Application Guide Applicant Webinar Slides- sample from past round Applicant Webinar Recording- sample from past round We also have a Word document version of the RFA(sample from past round) if you prefer to draft your application in Word.

The PDF version linked above is the best version to share with others and to refer to if anything accidentally gets deleted from the Word version. 1. Review the full Request for Applications(sample from past round) for the complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.

2. Register in WebGrants (may take up to two business days). 3.

Visit the Working Lands applicationfrequently asked questionsfor resources and to get support on your application. 4. Complete your application in WebGrants using our Application Guide.

## Key Dates and Deadlines - sample from past round * **October 17, 2025:** Request for Applications (RFA) released and application opens for submission. * **October 23, 2025 11am-12pm:**Applicant webinar with Q&A. Slidesand recording are posted online within one week of the webinar.

* **Application Drop-in Q&A**: Virtual drop-in Q&A is available to discuss eligibility questions, clarifying questions about the application, and questions about using WebGrants. * During any of the times listed below, use this link to join the meeting on Microsoft Teams or dial by phone at 802-828-7667, 214399072#.

* Tuesday, October 28, 3-4pm * Monday, November 3, 10-11am * Monday, November 17, 2-3pm * Tuesday, November 25 11am-12pm * Thursday, December 4 & 11, 10-11am * **Grant Project Planning**: Beginning October 17th, grant project planning assistance is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This includes working with a business advisor from Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program for a few hours to think through what to apply for, review financial statements, and light review of a grant application. Contact Clare Salerno at Clare. Salerno@vermont.

govto be referred to a business advisor with experience in your project area.

* **December 11, 2025 at 2:00pm**: Application deadline * **Late February/Early March 2026**: Applicants notified of funding decisions * **April 2026**: Estimated project start date * **April 2027:**Project end date ## Grant Overview - sample from past round * **Minimum & maximum award**: $10,000 - $50,000 * **Available funds**: $620,000 * Infrastructure development * Research and development * Workforce training and development * **Project length**: 12 months * There is no match requirement for this grant.

If you apply for a project that costs more than the grant amount you are applying for, you must demonstrate that you can pay for the parts of project that grant funds won't cover. * We recommend applying for the minimum amount of funds needed for project success due to high demand for limited funds. We recommend focusing on one project per grant application.

* You should expect to include business financial statements in their application, including a profit & loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Details about the timeline each statement should cover, along with sample statements will be outlined in the application. * You are not required to submit a business plan, but anyone that has a business plan is welcome to submit it.

## Eligible Applicants & Projects - sample from past round * Farms within agricultural sectors producing food (for animal or human consumption) and/or fiber products: hay and forage crops; hemp grown outdoors for fiber or ingestible CBD products; herbs; honey; hops; fruit; legumes; livestock for dairy, meat, and/or fiber; poultry; maple; nut trees; mushrooms grown outdoors; vegetables; and viticulture.

Any size farm in these sectors is eligible. * Logging businesses, sawmills, firewood producers, or any other primary forestry business that uses Vermont-grown logs, pulpwood, veneer, wood chips, bark, pilings, etc. * Wood product trucking and distribution businesses that transport Vermont-produced wood products.

* Value-added food and fiber businesses that source at least 50% of raw ingredients grown in Vermont OR are applying for a Working Lands grant to significantly increase use of ingredients grown in Vermont. * Agricultural product trucking and distribution businesses that transport Vermont-produced food and/or fiber products. * Retail businesses that primarily sell Vermont-produced food and/or fiber products.

* Secondary wood businesses, such as woodworkers or manufacturers, pellet mills, etc. Secondary wood businesses that source more wood from Vermont will receive higher scores than those that do not source wood from Vermont. Applicant organizations/businesses must be based in Vermont.

Businesses or organizations headquartered outside of VT may be eligible if the project or service being proposed is 100% focused on Vermont’s working landscape and businesses. Please contact Clare. Salerno@vermont.

gov to discuss eligibility for out-of-state applicants. All structures are eligible (e.g., Partnerships, Limited Liability Corporations, Sole Proprietorships, Cooperatives, Corporations, S Corporations, L3Cs, B Corporations, and/or non-profits that are involved in the support of production of agriculture and/or forest products). All legally incorporated enterprises must be registered with the VT Secretary of State.

Sole proprietors using a business name other than their own name must have their assumed business name (formerly known as a trade name) registered with the Secretary of State. To maximize the number of Vermont businesses receiving grants within the constraints of limited grant funds, grant recipients need to sit out three fiscal years of grantmaking, with year one being the fiscal year after the grant opportunity end date.

Your previous grant must be closed prior to reapplying.

These are the past grantees that are eligible: * FY22 or earlier Standard Business Grantees * FY21 or earlier Supply Chain Impact Grantees * FY20 COVID-19 Business Response Grantees ### Eligible Projects - sample from past round * Equipment – new or used equipment, including down payments for large pieces of equipment, rehabbing equipment that is new to the business, or upgrading equipment with new features or attachments.

* Infrastructure development – project-specific planning, permitting, engineering or architectural plans; building costs, including labor; may include equipment installation and/or technical assistance costs. * Research and development – testing new systems or technology, including purchasing new animal genetics and new root, seed, or nursery stock. * Workforce training and development – technical skill training for staff.

## Ineligible Applicants & Projects - sample from past round * Businesses/projects in these sectors are NOT eligible: cannabis; Christmas trees; equine; flowers; hemp grown for topical CBD products; and horticulture crops. * Businesses that exclusively grow food or other agricultural products indoors (such as hydroponics, aquaculture, or indoor mushroom production) are NOT eligible.

These business types often are eligible for other grants or services, so please review the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets grants and the additional grants and financial assistance pages. * Businesses that produce food made from ingredients that are not regularly produced in Vermont or are not available in sufficient quantities to meet production requirements.

* Trucking, distribution, or retail businesses that primarily sell food and/or fiber products that are not grown in Vermont.

* The following grantees are not eligible: * Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grantees * FY23, FY24, or FY25 Working Lands Business Enhancement Grantees * FY24 Small Farm Diversification & Transition Grantees * FY24 Agriculture Development Grantees * FY23 or FY24 ARPA Primary Producer Impact Grantees * FY22, FY23, or FY24 Supply Chain Impact Grantees * FY22 Meat Slaughter & Processing Development Grantees * Land purchases, rent, or leases * Livestock/animal purchases * General business advising and planning expenses * Projects that primarily include an ongoing, recurring cost of doing business Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets staff can assist applicants during State of Vermont business hours, Monday–Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

If assistance during these business hours does not work for you, please email, call, or text Clare Salerno to identify an alternative time. Lily Bradburn can help you with using Webgrants. Clare Salerno can answer questions around information presented within the Request for Applications, such as project eligibility or application questions, or the grantmaking process.

Please note that immediate assistance may not be available shortly before deadlines. clare. salerno@vermont.

gov