Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by The Carrot Project

Before submitting your request you are welcome to reach out to BAV with any questions. 
To begin the grants process, provide the following to the BAV Team by email: 
- Applicant (farm/organization) name and location
- Best way to contact you
- Primary product or mission
- In brief, who you serve and how many individuals or community groups are connected to and benefit from your product/program/service.
- Short description of your proposed project and timeline (2-3 paragraphs)
- General budget for your project 

The BAV Team will confirm the receipt of your grant request and follow up if there are any questions about your application. 

Dorothy Suput

The Resilience Grant Fund is a micro-grant program that helps farmers adapt to ever-changing realities and ensure farms remain viable while meeting the demand for local food, in-line with [BAV’s mission](https://www.berkshireagventures.org/mission) of supporting a stronger, more equitable food system.



The Resilience Grant Fund is a micro-grant program that helps farmers adapt to ever-changing realities and ensure farms remain viable while meeting the demand for local food, in-line with BAV’s mission of supporting a stronger, more equitable food system.

Resilience Grants support a range of projects, with priority given to applications that can demonstrate proof of concept; are unable to secure project funding (full or partial) from other sources; is a farm run by and or prioritizes serving historically marginalized communities; the project has a community and larger food systems benefit. 
BAV will not support applications for normal business operations. Both for-profit and nonprofit local farm/food focused entities within BAV’s service area are eligible to apply. 
Recent examples of use of grant funds: 
- Supported a portion of the total project cost to build and install on-farm infrastructure that would help this farm better meet customer demand. 
- Contributed to a farmer lead multi-day skill building workshop for new and beginning farmers.
- Farm was awarded a state grant to support climate friendly growing practices, BAV provided a grant to help towards closing the required state grant match. 


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

Grant

Local Food

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Farmers Market

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Certification

Marketing

Conservation

Research

Compliance

Currently, grants are reviewed by the BAV Team the first Tuesday of every month. Please note, it can take up 30 days to review and process your application. 
Grant awards vary, and requests may be funded in part. The maximum award amount is $2,500.
Funding for this program is limited. To ensure funding is distributed equitably, any group that has received a BAV grant within the current calendar year (2025) is not eligible for another contribution. As funding remains, awards will continue to be made to eligible applicants. 

To apply, potential applicants must first fill out the Loan Inquiry Form﻿﻿.

The application deadline is always the first of the month or the next business day if the first is a weekend or holiday.

Jeff Cole

The Carrot Project’s loan programs are available for businesses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

 

Capital or operating loans of $5,000-$250,000 are available to farm, forestry and fishery businesses, and to&#x2004;processing, distribution and storage enterprises that use any type of local agricultural product.

 

Loans are available for businesses that may not be able to obtain financing elsewhere, including startups and farms in the first few years of operation. Those who already have a business plan are ideally suited to apply. We offer guidance on when and how to apply for financing, as well as assistance with loan applications, and connection to lenders that lend up to $250,000.



The Carrot Project’s loan programs are available for businesses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
 
Capital or operating loans of $5,000-$250,000 are available to farm, forestry and fishery businesses, and to processing, distribution and storage enterprises that use any type of local agricultural product.
 
Loans are available for businesses that may not be able to obtain financing elsewhere, including startups and farms in the first few years of operation. Those who already have a business plan are ideally suited to apply. We offer guidance on when and how to apply for financing, as well as assistance with loan applications, and connection to lenders that lend up to $250,000.

Eligible Borrowers

Farms: 
- Annual gross annual revenues of $499,999 or less.
- Applicants must be engaged in cultivation of farm, forest or aquatic products or adding value to such products.
- Farm property must be owned or leased by the applicant(s); leases should be in effect for at least the repayment period of the loan.

Food Enterprises: 
- Must be involved in processing, storage or distribution of agricultural products. Businesses whose primary purpose is to process, add value to, store, or act as distributors for local agricultural products are eligible. For example: agricultural co-ops, co-packers, food hubs, produce delivery companies, cheese makers, butcher shops and farm stands are eligible when distributing or adding value to local products.
- The sources of the ingredients or materials from which the product is produced are primarily within Massachusetts and/or nearby states, although the points of sale need not be within this region.
- The business must have less than 50 employees.
- Agricultural industry support services such as veterinarians, feed & fertilizer stores, general retail outlets, or any business whose product is not primarily local & agricultural are not eligible.

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

Loan

- Borrower’s Financial Glossary (Download .pdf)
- Yearly Financial Statements Template (Download .xlsx) 
- Monthly Financial Statements Template (Download .xlsx) 
- Sample Business Plan and Financial Statements (Download .pdf)

Trade Relief

Infrastructure

Loan Terms for MA
- Loans from $5,000 to $250,000 available
- The interest rate is approximately 6-7% (subject to change)
- Flexible loan terms from 1-7 years. There is no penalty for early payment.
- Funds may be used for operating or capital expenses. If a loan is used for fixed assets, inventory or receivables, the purchased items will be used as collateral to secure the loan.

Loan Terms for RI and CT
- Loans of up to $250,000 are available.
- The interest rate is approximately 6-7% (subject to change)
- Flexible loan terms from 1-7 years. There is no penalty for early payment.
- Funds may be used for operating or capital expenses. If a loan is used for fixed assets, inventory or receivables, the purchased items will be used as collateral to secure the loan.

List of The Carrot Project Funding Opportunities