Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV)

Fill out BAV's inquiry form to connect with the Climate Smart Agriculture program team.

Ben Crockett

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures helps farmers implement climate-smart practices in its service area through technical assistance, financial support, outreach, and education. Supported projects include soil health improvements, no-till and cover cropping, season extension, energy efficiency, agroforestry planning and implementation, on-farm pollinator habitats, on-farm water management and irrigation efficiency, business planning and market analysis, and supplemental funding to enhance NRCS and other grant programs.



Farms in BAV's Berkshire-Taconic service area: Berkshire County, MA; Columbia and Dutchess Counties, NY; and Litchfield County, CT.

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

Grant

Reduced Tillage

Conservation

Regenerative

Carbon Capture

Grants and technical assistance for climate-smart practices. Award amounts are not published; intake is contact-driven with no fixed deadline. Includes supplemental funding designed to enhance NRCS and other grant programs.

Fill out BAV's inquiry form to request technical assistance or financial support.

Jake Levin

The Local Meat Processing Support Program aims to improve processing bottlenecks for livestock farmers in the Berkshire-Taconic region, supporting livestock-producer viability and the availability of local meat products. BAV works with existing processors, providing technical assistance, help applying for state and federal grants, and low-interest flexible loans for plant improvement, working capital, new equipment, updated food-safety plans, and workforce training and retention.



Meat processors, livestock farmers, and stakeholders in the local livestock/meat supply chain in the Berkshire-Taconic region (Berkshire County, MA; Columbia and Dutchess Counties, NY; and Litchfield County, CT).

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

Loan

Farmers Market

Food Systems

Blended support: low-interest flexible loans plus grant-application help and technical assistance for meat processors and livestock farmers. Specific loan amounts for this program are not published on the program page (BAV's Revolving Loan Fund carries a $50,000 / 5-year cap).

Farmers markets interested in partnering with BAV's Market Match Fund should contact BAV Program Manager Jake Levin (jake@berkshireagventures.org, 413.645.3594). BAV works directly with markets to set up and sustain SNAP matching — there is no competitive application round; this is a partnership and centralized fund.

The Market Match Fund, established by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) in spring 2022, is an economic-development and food-access program that provides a consistent, annual funding stream to match customer SNAP benefits at Berkshire-area farmers markets. Through the fund, BAV enables&#x2004;partner farmers markets to offer a $1-for-$1 SNAP match up to $30 per visit — so a shopper who withdraws $30 in SNAP receives $60 to spend on SNAP-eligible products (fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and edible seeds and plants). It is the first centralized fund in the region for SNAP matching, and aims to make local food more affordable for food-insecure households, increase revenue for local farmers and food producers, and support farmers markets by centralizing how match funding is raised and distributed across Berkshire County.



The Market Match Fund, established by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) in spring 2022, is an economic-development and food-access program that provides a consistent, annual funding stream to match customer SNAP benefits at Berkshire-area farmers markets. Through the fund, BAV enables partner farmers markets to offer a $1-for-$1 SNAP match up to $30 per visit — so a shopper who withdraws $30 in SNAP receives $60 to spend on SNAP-eligible products (fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, and edible seeds and plants). It is the first centralized fund in the region for SNAP matching, and aims to make local food more affordable for food-insecure households, increase revenue for local farmers and food producers, and support farmers markets by centralizing how match funding is raised and distributed across Berkshire County.

Beneficiaries are Berkshire-area (Berkshire County) farmers markets that partner with BAV to offer SNAP matching, and the SNAP-eligible households who shop at them. Markets partner with BAV rather than applying through a competitive process; BAV raises funds year-round and distributes match funding to partner markets. The program benefits local farmers and food producers by bringing more customers and food dollars to markets.

Local Food

BAV provides a $1-for-$1 SNAP match up to $30 per market visit at partner farmers markets. BAV raises funds year-round, with a special public fundraising campaign each spring. (The $30 is a per-visit consumer match, not a per-recipient award to the market.)

Fill out BAV's inquiry form to start a conversation with the lending team.

Shannon Smith

Provides flexible 0-4% interest loans to local farms and food businesses for a variety of uses. Capital within the Revolving Loan Fund is continuously recycled, creating a reliable stream of support for agricultural entrepreneurs in the Berkshire-Taconic region.



Farms and food businesses in the Berkshire-Taconic region: Berkshire County, MA; Columbia and Dutchess Counties, NY; and Litchfield County, CT. BAV also re-lends the USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) through the same intake for businesses meeting the USDA "rural business" criteria with fewer than 10 employees.

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

Terms: 5-year maximum term, 0-4% interest, and a $50,000 limit depending on availability of funds. Supported uses include bridge loans at 0% interest for upfront costs related to federal (NRCS) and state (MDAR) reimbursement programs where funds are paid upon project completion; capital improvements supporting Good Agricultural Practices and conservation outcomes; and regional food-system infrastructure (value-added processing equipment, commercial kitchens, food hubs). The USDA RMAP option carries a 5-year maximum term, low interest, and a $50,000 limit.

List of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) Funding Opportunities