Southeast Mass Ag Partnership TIE Grant

The TIE (Tools, Innovation, and Equipment) Award is a micro-award from SEMAP for farmers in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It helps farms trial new equipment, try farm systems they haven't used before, and solve problems on the farm, and it now also funds tools and equipment with proven impact. Award recipients share what they learn with other farmers in the region.

• Active farmers on land or sea in Southeastern Massachusetts (Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties) or Rhode Island.

• For-profit and nonprofit entities may apply; only one award per year goes to a nonprofit. A commercial grower renting land from a nonprofit farm counts as for-profit.

• Beginning farms are eligible, including farms in their first year.

• One application per farm per funding cycle.

• Farms that have not finished a previous TIE project must complete it before applying again.

• Not funded: deer fencing and wildlife exclusion, general production and operating expenses, labor or farmer time, large-scale capital projects, land purchase, and costs of starting a farm business.

Awards range from $500 to $3,000. The award is a reimbursement: SEMAP sends funds within 14 days of receiving receipts, once the project is complete. SEMAP will consider special circumstances where an applicant needs part or all of the funds up front.

Projects are expected to be finished by December 31 of the award year. Recipients share their findings with other farmers through a written report, video, workshop or interview.

SEMAP takes TIE applications once a year through an online form linked from its TIE Award page. The 2026 round opened January 9, 2026 and closed February 18, 2026, with awards announced by March 31. The next round has not been announced yet. Questions go to Susan Murray, SEMAP's executive director.