Grant Writing

Farm Credit East offers grant writing services to help farms and agribusinesses grow, change or expand their enterprises.
Close-up of farmer in field reviewing data on his tablet
Caucasian man farmer standing in field with tablet device in hands and showing something to woman on screen.
Are You Grant Ready?
Watch the webinar to hear insight on applications and frequently asked questions to determine your grant readiness.

We position our clients to succeed.

Years of ag development experience
Our grant writing experts know agriculture. Through our experience, we’ve found that outside entities are very interested in supporting and helping the industry grow and change. We therefore know where to look for ag grants and incentives that will help our clients succeed.
Deep understanding of each program’s requirements
We have written a multitude of grants, so we understand program requirements and also know where to look to find additional funds. Matching the appropriate program to a producer’s activity or investment is a key part of the equation that we do well.
Personalized service
One of the most important aspects of this process is the one-on-one assistance you receive from a Farm Credit East grant writer, who will meet with you, review your situation and tailor the grant application to your business needs.

Types of grants we work with

Value-added producer grants

A variety of grants exist for producers, ag startups, and young and beginning producers. Value-added grants help producers turn the raw material they grow into a value-added product.

Economic development programs

Grants that aim to enhance rural communities, including development of rural areas or providing jobs, are available from several sources.

Energy-related grants

Energy-related grants are available for producers seeking to implement renewable energy sources as well as energy audits.

Special state programs

State and regional grants exist for those working to support the development and interest of Northeast agriculture and its rural communities.

How we can help you

We write grant applications that:
  • Articulate your project’s story and its benefits effectively.
  • Determine a grant’s applicability to your objectives.
  • Meet the application’s objectives and requirements.
  • Prepare a feasibility study for programs that require one.

Ongoing Grants

Get Started

Contact your local office to learn more about our grant writing programs.

Grants & Incentives for Northeast Agriculture

This document contains grants and other incentives available in the Northeast states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, serviced by Farm Credit East. The listings include grant programs, tax incentives and loan programs from various funding sources available to agricultural producers and other entities involved in agriculture or related industries.

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2024 Grants and Incentives for Northeast Agriculture report cover

Grant Writing FAQs

The cost varies based on the number of hours required to complete the grant application and its related reports. Our goal is to not go over the threshold of 5 percent of the expected grant return.

Yes. Our team is skilled and in demand; their time has a value, as does yours.

That depends entirely on the funding entity and their process for scoring and announcing awardees. It can range from a few weeks to several months.

It varies depending on the program and, more importantly, on the quality (preparedness, detail, eligibility for program) of the project and the skills and experience of the grant writer. You are investing based on both of these factors. If we don’t see reasonable opportunity for success, we won’t take on your project.

The success of a grant request is largely based on the applicant’s preparedness to apply for a grant, which is the product of your thorough understanding of your project mission and objectives. A successful grant request requires a well-thought-out business plan (either on paper or in explanation), plus a drive to succeed and a minimum of funds to provide the required match.

Jeff King of Kings-Ransom Farm squatting down next to one of his dairy cows

“The Farm Credit East team was able to put our proposal into a much more advantageous format because of their familiarity with the process.”

Jeff King
Kings-Ransom Farm
Schuylerville, New York

View From the Field

“The grant writing folks at Farm Credit East made the whole process so much easier.”

Who can help you get the grants you need?

Jeff King is a partner in his family’s fourth-generation dairy farm, Kings-Ransom Farm in Schuylerville, New York. When trying to diversify and begin a retail business to sell fluid milk and ice cream under a new entity, King Brothers Dairy, Jeff drafted an application for a USDA value-added producer grant to help with some of the costs. “We attempted to apply on our own, and we were turned down the first time,” said Jeff.

How we helped

As a long-time Farm Credit East customer, Jeff was directed to Farm Credit East's grant writing services. “We worked with Farm Credit to tweak our application from the previous year and we were successful in obtaining funding the second time around,” said Jeff. The grant was instrumental in covering operating expenses, allowing us to implement an effective marketing plan, and defraying some of the packaging and labor costs early on in the business.

“Farm Credit East is familiar with the process, and they have an idea of what the evaluators are looking for,” said Jeff. “Thanks to their help, we were much more successful than we ever could have been on our own. We highly value the service we received.”

Tell Us About Your Project

Please note, this form is to submit projects for which you are interested in obtaining Farm Credit East grant writing services. It is not a submission form for any of Farm Credit East's grant programs. Information on Farm Credit East grant, award and scholarship programs can be accessed from our community support page.

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