Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)

View the application questions and complete your application online at this portal.

The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is an incentive program that supports Governor Lee’s priority of job creation and economic development by facilitating agricultural development in Tennessee. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Department of Economic and Community Development.

The AEF awards grants to starting or expanding agricultural, food, and forestry businesses; nonprofits, local governments, and other entities in Tennessee, or those whose project will be located in Tennessee. The program focuses on value-added and processing projects that benefit other producers or forest landowners. **Farming projects such as livestock, row crop, or horticulture production expansions will not be competitive, but may be supported through the [Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP)](https://ambrook.com/funding/tennessee-agricultural-enhancement-program).**

Successful grant recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. Priority will be given to businesses located in at-risk counties, distressed counties, and counties adjoining at-risk or distressed counties, and the AEF selection process is competitive.



The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is an incentive program that supports Governor Lee’s priority of job creation and economic development by facilitating agricultural development in Tennessee. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Department of Economic and Community Development.
The AEF awards grants to starting or expanding agricultural, food, and forestry businesses; nonprofits, local governments, and other entities in Tennessee, or those whose project will be located in Tennessee. The program focuses on value-added and processing projects that benefit other producers or forest landowners. Farming projects such as livestock, row crop, or horticulture production expansions will not be competitive, but may be supported through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).
Successful grant recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. Priority will be given to businesses located in at-risk counties, distressed counties, and counties adjoining at-risk or distressed counties, and the AEF selection process is competitive.

Applicant Requirements
- Applicants must be a Tennessee entity (i.e. agriculture, food, or forestry business, farmer, local government, or nonprofit in Tennessee) or have a project based in Tennessee.
- Applicants must demonstrate that their project will increase farm income for local farmers, enhance access to agricultural markets, increase capacity of their business, or contribute to the agriculture industry through innovation.
- Applicants must be making an investment into the project. AEF funds may not be more than 25% of the project’s total budget.
- Applicants must submit project updates to measure impact of the grant on the applicant as well as the local economy, and agree to work with the Department of Agriculture to track success of the project.
- Applicants may not submit proposals that will result in relocation of a facility from one place in Tennessee to another.
- Applicants must purchase at least 25% of any agricultural inputs from Tennessee producers. This requirement may be relaxed when compliance would be impracticable – i.e. in times of drought, disease, etc.
Project Requirements
Projects funded by the Agricultural Enterprise Fund must match the description of at least one of the following four categories. Many projects will potentially match the description of more than one category and applicants should indicate so on their application.
- Increase in Farm Income - This category includes projects that will increase farm income by offering farmers higher commodity prices than other markets, processing value-added products for farmers, or allowing a single farmer to add value to their own farm products.
- Increased Access to Markets - This category includes projects that will create or expand a market for Tennessee farmers or forest landowners, including reducing miles that farmers must transport their products to market or creating a new market entirely. 
- Increased Capacity - This category includes projects that will expand the capacity of an existing agricultural, food, or forestry business, including their production or processing capacity or the number of employees.
- Agricultural Innovation - This category is appropriate for entrepreneurs who wish to market a new technological innovation with the potential to impact Tennessee agriculture or the forestry industry by creating efficiencies in production, reducing costs, etc.

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

Grant

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Trees

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) was established in 2005 to provide cost share dollars to agricultural producers for the purpose of making long-term investments in Tennessee farms and communities. Participation allows producers to maximize farm profits, adapt to changing market situations, improve operation safety, increase farm efficiency, and make a positive economic impact in their communities.




The Enhancement Program is split across 3 Applications for different Enhancement types:
- Application A covers Livestock, Row Crop, and Hay Producers.
- Application B covers Producer Diversification
- Application C covers Poultry Growers
Eligibility for each Application can be found here

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

Cost Share

Dairy

Row Crops

Livestock

Poultry

Butter

Yogurt

Cheese

Milk

Grains

Oilseeds

Amaranth Grain

Buckwheat

Einkorn

Emmer

Guar

Hemp

Indigo

Kenaf

Khorasan

Quinoa

Speltz

Sugar

Sugar Beets

Sunflowers

Teff

Millet

Triticale

Alfalfa

Cotton

Oats

Barley

Canola

Flax

Mustard

Rapeseed

Rice

Safflower

Peanuts

Sorghum

Soybeans

Wheat

Corn

Cattle

Specialty Livestock

Pigs

Sheep

Cornish Hens

Chickens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Goat Milk

Cow Milk

Sunflower Seeds

Crambe

Sesame

Raw Sugars

Refined Sugars

ELS Cotton

Upland Cotton

Malting Barley

Japonica Rice

Long Grain Rice

Medium Grain Rice

Industrial Rice

Sweet Rice

Wild Rice

Durum Wheat

Hard Red Spring Wheat

Sweet Corn

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Caribou

Equine

Guinea Pigs

Mink

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Water Buffalo

Alpacas

Beefalo

Emus

Llamas

Mohair

Reindeer

Bison

Buffalo

Deer

Goats

Barrows

Boars

Sows

Hogs

Feeder Pigs

Rams

Lambs

Ewes

Broilers

Fryers

Roasters

Chicks

Layers

Pullets

Ducklings

Goslings

Poults

Toms

Horses

Bucks

Slaughter Goats

Nannies

Other

Local Food

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Greenhouse

Buildings

Fencing

Construction

Storage

Farmers Market

Public Health

Compliance

Marketing

Terms are specific to each different program. All details can be found here.

Submit project proposal, estimated cost, and any additional relevant information to: 
Tennessee Department of Agriculture 
Attn: Rachel Sullivan 
PO Box 40627 
Nashville, TN 37204

Rachel Sullivan

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is providing this opportunity through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). TAEP is a direct result of the State of Tennessee's continued commitment to supporting farm development and Tennessee's agricultural community.


The purpose of the Statewide Agricultural Producer Association Grant Program is to increase income to Tennessee farmers by providing assistance for eligible activities of statewide agricultural producer associations across Tennessee. These activities contribute to the education, training and marketing skills of Tennessee agricultural producers as well as developing markets for farm products. Total funding is limited and grant requests are competitive.



The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is providing this opportunity through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). TAEP is a direct result of the State of Tennessee's continued commitment to supporting farm development and Tennessee's agricultural community.

The purpose of the Statewide Agricultural Producer Association Grant Program is to increase income to Tennessee farmers by providing assistance for eligible activities of statewide agricultural producer associations across Tennessee. These activities contribute to the education, training and marketing skills of Tennessee agricultural producers as well as developing markets for farm products. Total funding is limited and grant requests are competitive.

Eligibility Requirements 
Grant funds are available to statewide agricultural producer associations who meet the eligibility requirements below. A qualified association must: 
1. Be statewide. Local and regional associations are not eligible to apply due to budget limitations. 
2. Clearly identified and quantifiable performance measures should be a part of the proposal. 
3. Associations must be legally organized (501C3, city or county government, university, etc.) and capable of receiving and managing state grant funds. 
4. Activities must meet all federal, state, and local building, food safety, and regulatory requirements. 

Eligible Activities 
Emphasis is placed on activities that directly impact the greatest number of producers and increase agricultural and forestry related economic opportunity. Projects must be innovative and not a substitute for existing programs. Eligible activities include:
1. Identifying and utilizing new marketing opportunities for agriculture and forestry related products 
2. Increasing sales of agriculture and forestry related products grown in Tennessee 
3. Education, demonstration, and training 
4. Expert speakers, training materials, and related educational items 
5. Statewide producer meeting expenses 
6. Other, as pre-approved by TDA 

List of Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Funding Opportunities