Maine Farms for the Future Program

The Maine Farms for the Future Program is a competitive grant program that provides selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.

The goal is to provide grants to for farm business owners to conduct research and strategic business planning on their “Ideas for Change” that might increase Farm Vitality, which is defined as, “an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth."

The Program offers a spring and fall application period for eligible farm business owners who choose to apply.

The Phase 1 grant allows selected farmers to research ideas for change on their farm and work with a certified business advisor, as well as other agricultural and professional service providers to develop an investment-grade business plan. To be eligible to apply for the Phase 1 grant of $6,000 to research and develop a business plan, an Applicant must:

1. Be a private, for-profit company that is owned by individuals, partners or corporations, that grows or produces agricultural products for commercial sale

2. Own and operate a Farm Business that has been producing agricultural products commercially in the State of Maine for at least two (2) years (24 months) at the time of application;

3. Have ownership of the land that is being farmed, or be a partner or shareholder in a legal entity that owns the farmland; or if the farmland has been purchased recently, provide evidence of at least two years (24 months) of experience operating a commercial farm operation elsewhere in Maine;

4. Have State of Maine certification or licensure as required for their type of agricultural operation, i.e. Nutrient Management Plan, Commercial Kitchen License, Milk License, etc.

The **Phase 2 cash grant and/or low-interest rate on a loan through the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund **(AMLF), assists those farmers selected for Phase 1 between January 1, 2000 and the current year, who have a current business plan with implementing the project(s) described in their Business Plan. In exchange for a Phase 2 grant, each farm must sign a Farmland Protection Agreement that will be valid for 7 years. If a farm is permanently protected with a conservation easement, the farm may only compete for the low-interest rate on the AMLF loan.

To be eligible for a Phase 2 cash grant and/or the low interest rate through the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund, an Applicant must:

1. Be a “Selected Farm” which is a farm that was previously selected for and completed Phase 1 after January 1, 2000; and

2. Satisfy all other eligibility criteria and match requirements listed in the Phase 2 Application Form.

Questions about Phase 2 Eligibility and Application Process can be submitted to alexander.redfield@maine.gov and answers will be published in December.

Applications are to be submitted to the State of Maine Division of Procurement Services, via email, to Proposals@maine.gov. Applications must be received by December 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. local time. Applications received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be ineligible for award consideration for that annual application enrollment period.

Important Notes:

• **Only applications received by email will be considered. ** The Department assumes no liability for assuring accurate/complete e-mail transmission and receipt. 

• Applicants are to insert the following into the subject line of their email submission: “RFA# 202109150 Application Submission – [Applicant’s Farm Name]”

• Applications are to be submitted as a single, typed, PDF or WORD file and must include pages 10-18 of this RFA document.

• Applications must include

  • copies of current certifications (Organic, etc.) or licenses (Maple Syrup, Commercial Kitchen, Mobile Vendor, etc.) required to lawfully operate the farm business.

  • The 2019 and 2020 Balance Sheet Financial Statement. 

Review the RFP carefully to make sure your application is compliant with the program rules.

• 2021 Request For Applications

• Outline of Contents for Phase 2 Business Plan (DOCX)

• Farms selected for Maine Farms for the Future – Phase 1 from 01/01/00 to 12/31/2019 (PDF)

• 2021 Business Planning Outline (DOCX)

• FFF In-Kind Materials Match Log (XLS)

• FFF In-Kind Labor Match Log (XLS)

• FFF Purchased Materials Match Log (XLS)

• FFF Contracted Labor Match Log (XLS)