Vermont Farm and Forest Water Quality Grant

The Viability Program provides grants of up to $40,000 to help Vermont farmers invest in water quality-related on-farm infrastructure. This year, the program is funded by Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, but VHCB reserves the right to use other funding sources if necessary. All grantees will be required to comply with VHCB and Federal ARPA requirements.

Eligible Applicants

Any Vermont farm with a gross farm income of $15,000 or more that is required to comply with Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs). 

Eligible Projects

Projects to make on-farm capital improvements that also have direct, positive impacts on water quality are eligible for funding. The following types of projects have been funded in the past: 

• Construction, renovation, or upgrades to farm infrastructure.

• Purchase of equipment that will be used frequently; is essential to the business; cannot be rented; and leads to innovative farm practices. Note that applications for equipment must include a price quote.

Awards require one-to-one matching funds, meaning that VHCB can only pay for up to 50% of a project’s total cost.

Match can be in the form of state or federal awards or in the form of farm cash, loans, or in-kind labor from the applicant. A match waiver may be requested in the application. Awards will be paid on a reimbursement basis upon the receipt of project invoices.

PDF Instructions & Application

If you need assistance with the financial documents requested in the application, there is support available through UVM Extension. Please contact Zac Smith at zachary.m.smith@uvm.edu or 802-656-7624 for more information.

VHCB staff will be hosting 3 informational sessions which will provide a brief overview of the program and provide an opportunity for Q&A. Register here:

- **[Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – 1:00pm-2:00pm](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o71bmUWOQuiCOJtr_yukmA)**

- **[Thursday, December 18, 2025 – 11:00am-12:00pm](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CmkDp0M1Tg27bl-3OyRNvw)**

- **[Monday, January 5, 2025 – 12:00pm-1:00pm](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sbMKGqHmSbmALhpdl39-ug)**

• Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs)