Applying for the Beginning Farmers Competitive Grant Program can be a transformative opportunity for new agricultural entrepreneurs. To ensure your proposal is as strong as possible, we have compiled a list of resources to guide you through the application process. These organizations may be able to help with everything from understanding how an applicant’s business needs align with the program’s RFP to ensuring that an application is clear, comprehensive, and if funded, would create lasting value for the business. Please reference the list below to find an application resource that may be able to help.
If an organization would like to be added to this list, please email info@nyfvi.org.
STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS
American Farmland Trust. American Farmland Trust (AFT) works to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. AFT can support applicants to develop and refine proposal concepts, and can review written application materials and provide feedback to applicants. New York regional staff will primarily work with farmers looking to access, protect, or transition farmland, as well as farmers looking to implement conservation practices on their land. If you are looking for land, you may also visit the New York Farmland Finder – www.nyfarmlandfinder.org for additional tools and support. AFT can support Spanish-speaking applicants.
Contact: Alex Morency, amorency@farmland.org, +1 3157289463
CADE. CADE offers services free to NY farm and food businesses with varying levels of support based on our current capacity. We ask that you fill out a consultation request form in its entirety so we can better assist you. All information will remain confidential and not be used in an identifiable way without direct permission. Interested in our services or need further assistance? Please complete the form at: https://cadefarms.org/consultation-request/and a CADE staff member will reach out to you. CADE can support all types of farms and production systems.
Contact: James Cagle, james@cadefarms.org, 607-433-2545
NY FarmNet. NY FarmNet serves the needs of NY farms and farm families in dealing with the financial and emotional challenges they are facing. We assist new and existing farmers by addressing the financial challenges and opportunities involved in building a successful farm business. NY FarmNet can support all types of farms and production systems, including non-English speaking applicants.
Contact: 1-800-547-3276, nyfarmnet@cornell.edu
New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC). Since 1984, the New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost. There are 20 SBDC centers and over 50 satellite centers across New York state.
Contact: Bree Bacon, MPA, abacon@niagaracc.suny.edu, (716) 210-2515
REGIONAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
CCE Broome County. CCE Broome County is available to assist applicants in Broome County by discussing potential project ideas, helping to determine eligibility, identifying documents and information needed to successfully submit the application, and reading and offering edits on grant applications that have been drafted by the applicant. CCE Broome County cannot write grant language on behalf of applicants.
Contact: Laura Biasillo, lw257@cornell.edu, (607) 584-5007
CCE Madison. CCE Madison works with farm businesses located in or moving to start up in Madison County. We can offer input, feedback, and support during the application process, but cannot develop, write, or submit applications.
Contact: Maryellen Sheehan, ms3573@cornell.edu, 315-684-3001- ext 126
CCE Northern NY Tri County Regional Ag Team. One function of the Tri County team is providing technical business and financial assistance to producers in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Producers in the three counties can receive input and suggestions on their grant application, but the team cannot write or complete a grant application for a producer.
Contact: Colin Hostetter, cjh354@cornell.edu , 315-379-9192 ext. 427
https://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu
CCE Onondaga. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County is available to assist farm business applicants with guidance, feedback, and support during the application process, but cannot develop, write, or submit applications.
Contact: Janet Oppedisano, jto32@cornell.edu , 315-551-2802
http://cceonondaga.org/
CCE Suffolk. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Suffolk works with agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture businesses in Suffolk County. CCE Suffolk County is available to assist applicants with guidance, feedback, and support during the application process, but cannot develop, write, or submit applications.
Contact: Agriculture/Horticulture: Nora Catlin, njc23@cornell.edu, 631-727-7850
Contact: Aquaculture: Harrison Tobi, hjt27@cornell.edu
CCE Tompkins. CCE Tompkins County is available to assist applicants in Tompkins County by discussing potential applications, helping to determine eligibility, identifying documents and information needed to successfully submit the application, and reading and offering edits on grant applications that have been drafted by the applicant. This support is offered via a pilot program, “Tompkins Food Future: Finding Funding for Farms & Food Access,” through which Brit Campese at Vision Driven Consulting can provide individualized support with this and other grants. CCE Tompkins programs (including this one) cannot write grant language on behalf of applicants. Learn more at https://www.tompkinsfoodfuture.org/findingfunding.
Contact: Graham Savio, gs695@cornell.edu, 607-272-2292 x159
Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program. The Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program can assist commercial fruit and vegetable producers in their service region (which includes the following 17 counties: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren, and Washington counties) by discussing potential project ideas, helping to determine eligibility, identifying documents and information needed to successfully submit the application, and reading and offering edits on grant applications that have been drafted by the applicant. We cannot write grant language on behalf of applicants.
Contact: Elizabeth Higgins, emh56@cornell.edu, (518) 949-3722
MVEDD, Inc. We would cover the Mohawk Valley Region with the following counties, (Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie). We would review/edit and not be the full grant writer.
Contact: Stephen R. Smith, ssmith@mvedd.org, 315-866-4671
OTHER RESOURCES
Your county Extension office may be able to provide support. Please reach out to them directly – use this list to find the office for your county.