Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for wholesale.

To apply, contact one of NCAFA's Loan Program Officers (Larry Green, Carl Bond or Barbara Smith) by phone or email. The application fee is $500.00 and an origination fee of one percent of the loan amount is assessed. Rate, term and loan limits are under Terms.

Sean McKeon

Executive Director

Larry Green

Loan Program Officer

Carl Bond

Barbara Smith

Agribusiness loans, provided by the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (NCAFA), assist agribusinesses in obtaining capital to start up, increase, or make changes to their business. They are designed to provide capital to acquire and build facilities.



- North Carolina agribusinesses licensed by the Secretary of State, or a proprietor living in North Carolina.
- Active agricultural businesses in manufacturing, processing, or retail/wholesale servicing the agricultural community, or processing agricultural commodities for sale in general commerce.
- Applicant must be an individual or business entity located in North Carolina.
- Applicant must lack the current financial strength to obtain sufficient capital to acquire or improve their business.

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

Loan limits. "Maximum Loan - Approximately $5 million; Minimum Loan - Normally $100,000.00." Both figures are hedged ("approximately," "normally") on NCDA&CS's own page.

Rate and term. "Maximum term will not normally exceed 15 years. Variable rate based on the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal." No fixed-rate option and no spread over Prime is published, so the actual rate has to come from NCAFA directly.

Fees. "The application fee is $500.00. An origination fee will be assessed for one percent of the loan amount." (On a $1M loan that is $10,000 in origination plus the $500 application fee.)

Match / cost share. None — this is a repayable commercial loan, not a grant or cost-share program.

The eligibility screen cuts both ways. The applicant must be an active NC agricultural business ("manufacturing, processing, or retail wholesale servicing the agricultural community or... processing agricultural commodities for sale in general commerce") that "lacks current financial strength to obtain sufficient capital to acquire or improve their business" — so a borrower who already qualifies for conventional bank credit is not the target.

No security requirement is published for this program (unlike NCAFA's Facilities Disaster Loans, which specify a junior lien).

Verified 2026-09-04.

Apply through MDA's online application system.
- If you are a new user, you will need to create an account.
- Once you are logged in, select New Markets: Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023).
If this is your first time applying for reimbursement, you must also submit a W-9 (Request for Taxpayer ID and Certification) by either:
- Uploading a completed and signed IRS form W-9 (PDF), or
- Within the application system, completing the online W-9 PowerForm hosted by DocuSign.

Erika Camplin

Agricultural Marketing and Development

The AGRI Make it Minnesota Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program can help your Minnesota consumer packaged goods (CPG) food, beverage, or pet food company, cooperative, or Tribal entity grow by matching your investments in a variety of high-impact marketing activities. MDA processes applications first-come, first-served.



To be eligible, you must be a Minnesota-based company or cooperative registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State; offer a branded CPG food, beverage, or pet food product; be a small-to-medium enterprise with fewer than 500 employees (grower cooperatives are exempt); and be a current holder of an MDA Food License (your own or that of a Minnesota co-manufacturer you use).

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

- How to Fill Out Your Online Application

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Certified Organic

Trade Relief

These cost-share programs are reimbursed at a rate of 50% of eligible investment made. The maximum annual reimbursement per eligible entity in FY26 is $4,000 for brands manufactured in Minnesota, or $3,000 for brands that otherwise qualify but manufacture elsewhere.

Ongoing. Trade Show Assistance is now administered under the new GTA Market Development Program — see the Growth Through Agriculture program page (agr.mt.gov/GTA) for current application details and requirements.

Montana Dept. of Agriculture — Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) Market Development

The Montana Trade Show Assistance Program helps Montana agricultural entrepreneurs expand their markets by exhibiting at wholesale trade shows, one way to increase their sales network. The program also provides extensive free training resources for first-time exhibitors, covering planning, pre-show preparation, booth setup, and post-show follow-up.



- Individuals and businesses or industry organizations, including agritourism operations, may apply.
- Public and private agencies and organizations, educational institutions, local governments, cooperatives, and non-profits may also apply.
- Start-up businesses must have been in operation for at least 6 months.
- The applicant's business must be registered with the Montana Secretary of State's office.
- Projects must primarily add value to Montana's agricultural products.
- Projects must have prospects to create or retain jobs in Montana.
- A 50% cost-share is required; grant funds reimburse half of approved project expenses.
- Trade show assistance is limited to out-of-state trade shows or trade missions; in-state trade shows are not eligible.
- An applicant that has received two GTA-funded grants (GTA or BAM) must wait through a one-year cooling-off period before being awarded again.
- Applicants currently in default on any prior Montana Department of Agriculture loan or grant contract are not eligible.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Marketing

Labor

No reimbursement amounts are published for Trade Show Assistance itself any more. The Montana Department of Agriculture's Marketing Assistance page now says only: "The Trade Show Assistance Program will now be covered under the new GTA Market Development Program. Please visit https://agr.mt.gov/GTA for more information and to apply." What remains free-standing on the page is the trade-show training and planning material (the four-track first-time-exhibitor guide, budget and pricing worksheets, shipping templates) — no cash.

The terms you actually apply under now are Growth Through Agriculture's (agr.mt.gov/GTA, FY2026 guidelines):
- Award ceilings: "The maximum award amount is $150,000." Within that, "The maximum grant amount for any single application is $50,000" and "The maximum loan amount for any single application is $100,000." The Agriculture Development Council decides whether you get a grant, a loan, or both.
- Cost-share: "50% cost-share is required for all types of Growth Through Agriculture proposals including both grants and loans... 50% of an eligible expense will be paid by the applicant and 50% of the expense will be reimbursed with grant funds." In-kind does not count — "'In-kind' is NOT eligible for cost-share" — and expenses from normal day-to-day operation are excluded. Only expenses incurred on/after July 1 of the application year qualify.
- Payment: "All awards will be paid on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise specified by the Council."
- Loan pricing: "The low interest loan rate will be set at 0% interest, the high interest loan rate will be set at 4%" for FY2026; "Loans may be repaid over a period of up to eight years," and a low-interest loan requires unencumbered collateral securing the full amount.
- Other conditions: a named personal guarantee is required for grants and loans; security provisions are set case by case; no institutional overhead or indirect costs; state grant funds (other than commodity check-off) cannot be used as your match; and "An applicant that receives any two GTA grants within a two-year period will have a one-year cooling off period before applying again."
- Eligible costs include travel and "Advertising and Promotion" — the categories a trade-show exhibit would fall under.

Timing. FY2026 GTA pre-applications opened October 10 with a November 10 deadline; full applications were due February 2; awards at the March Council meeting.

Applications are now open for 2026 trade shows. Contact Shanna Johnson, International & Domestic Marketing Coordinator (701-390-7515, shljohnson@nd.gov).

Shanna Johnson

The Trade Show Participation Grant helps North Dakota agriculture companies explore domestic wholesale markets by supporting exhibition at new trade shows outside the state. It benefits both companies new to trade show participation and established firms entering shows for the first time.



- Companies based in North Dakota.
- Applicants must be value-added agriculture companies.
- The trade show must be a domestic show held outside North Dakota.
- The company must not have exhibited at that trade show before; both first-time and established exhibitors qualify.

Eligible expenses include booth/space rental; booth equipment, furniture and carpeting rental; booth utility costs; promotional materials (product flyers, booth signage specific to the show); shipping, storage, drayage and show labor; and travel expenses (airfare or mileage, hotel). Application deadlines vary by show (for example, the Bar & Restaurant Show in Las Vegas, March 24–25, 2026 has an application deadline of December 26, 2025).

Applications for the FY27 Farm to Institution Market Development Grant are now open. Applications opened September 14, 2026. Stay tuned for updates by signing up for the Ag Bulletin. To apply when open: read the Request for Applications, view the applicant webinar, register in WebGrants, and complete your application in WebGrants. The application deadline is Monday, October 26, 2026 at 1:59 PM. Apply via WebGrants at agriculturegrants.vermont.gov. Register in WebGrants at least two business days before the deadline.

Madison Berry

The Farm to Institution Market Development Grant (formerly Local Food Market Development Grant) is intended to support market development opportunities for local food producers, with a focus on Vermont institutional markets. Funding is provided to help improve local producer access to, and engagement with, schools, hospitals, colleges, correctional facilities, and other local institutions. Eligible proposals will increase institutional market opportunity for at least one Vermont farm business and increase the amount of local food purchased and served in Vermont institutions.



The following entities are eligible to apply for this competitive grant:

- Vermont farm or food businesses
- Vermont producer groups or associations
- Supply chain facilitators (non-profits, economic development authorities, food hubs, etc.)

Farmers Market

Food Systems

The minimum award for this grant program is $10,000 and the maximum award is $30,000. All applicants must demonstrate 25% of the total grant award in matching funds; the matching funds requirement can be met with cash, in-kind, or a combination of both.

Get notified when this funding opportunity opens again

The Good Acre

Phanat Vang

LEAFF program contact

Created to empower emerging farmers with enhanced market access opportunities, our LEAFF program provides participants with the technical support needed to prepare for wholesale production. The produce purchased through LEAFF is then donated to hunger relief organizations serving the Twin Cities and beyond.



Any farmers who fall into the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s definition of an emerging farmer (PDF). Applications to the LEAFF program are open to all emerging farmers. The number of participants is dependent on program funding. 
Acceptance into LEAFF will be determined through a lottery system for completed applications that illustrate:
- A demonstrated plan for growing produce
- Prior experience or training in Minnesota for produce farming
- Experience with marketing or growing according to quality standards
- Ability to respond to communication and show up to meetings when required
- Ability to meet the logistical requirements of delivery time, invoicing, and weekly quantity limits
- Understanding of the LEAFF tiered system and willingness to grow with The Good Acre


A dedicated market or distribution channel provided by an organization that may include financial incentives.

Channel

If accepted into the program, the quantity of produce we will purchase from you depends on your assigned tier for the 2024 season:
- Tier 1: We will procure up to $5,000, with a weekly delivery cap not exceeding $500.
- Tier 2: We will procure up to $7,500, with a weekly delivery cap not exceeding $750.
- Tier 3: This tier is applicable to all farmers with growing contracts at The Good Acre. LEAFF funds will amount to 10% of your total contracted value for the 2024 season. These funds offer a form of insurance and are designed to be flexible. If a contracted farmer faces crop failure or is unable to fulfill a contracted item for any reason, they can maintain overall contract revenue and swap crops, mitigating excess in other crops on their farms.


Disaster Relief

Local Food

Coronavirus

Trees

Weather

Wildfire

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

This is a purchase guarantee, not a grant: "LEAFF is not a grant, but a guarantee to buy a set dollar amount of produce from the farmers accepted into the program."

What The Good Acre will buy — amounts depend on the tier you are assigned (the FAQ states these figures for the 2024 season):
- Tier 1: "We will procure up to $5,000, with a weekly delivery cap not exceeding $500."
- Tier 2: "We will procure up to $7,500, with a weekly delivery cap not exceeding $750."

What it costs you. "The only costs associated with participating in LEAFF are the farm's typical cost of production and packaging." All produce must be packed in single-use, non-porous wholesale packaging (wax boxes) for FSMA compliance: "Farmers in Tier 1 of LEAFF can expect to spend approximately $400–$600 on boxes. Farmers in Tier 2 should anticipate spending approximately $700–$900 on boxes." You can buy bulk packaging from The Good Acre or source your own; Minnesota's Produce Safety Mini Grant can reimburse packaging costs.

Terms of sale. "All produce is priced by the full case. Smaller quantities and mixed boxes will not be accepted." Produce must be on the current wholesale list and packed to the wholesale standards guide. Unless you work with a spoke site, you deliver to The Good Acre in Falcon Heights, MN on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

Season and selection. "The LEAFF program runs from mid June to mid October"; acceptance decisions come in March and are made by lottery among completed, qualifying applications, one application per family. Open to farmers meeting MDA's limited-land-access and limited-market-access definitions.

Status. "Applications for the 2026 growing season are now closed" — join the 2027 notification list.

List of Agricultural Funding for Wholesale