Vermont Working Lands Service Provider & Producer Association Grants

Vermont-based nonprofit producer association groups that represent and promote Vermont agriculture, food, beverage, forest, or fiber products are welcome to apply for grant funding for projects in the following domains:

• Market development, marketing plans, and sales

  • Ability to identify appropriate markets, brand and sell products, value proposition, product differentiation, market research, including research and design;

• Leadership and organizational development: business structure, business technical assistance, onboarding and/or transitions for new executive directors and post succession;

• Governance: Board training and capacity, building/refreshing by-laws, committee work, strategic planning process activities

• Business research and development; business and financial planning

This grant is for two types of applicants: 

• Service providers, which are organizations that provide business support services to agricultural and forestry businesses. The specific types of services eligible for funding are outlined later in this section. 

• Producer associations, also known as trade associations, industry trade groups, or business associations, are organizations founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. Vermont-based producer association groups that represent and promote Vermont agriculture, food, beverage, forest, or fiber products are eligible to apply.  

Service provider grant projects should provide direct services to Vermont-based working lands businesses through technical assistance and/or other forms of support. Producer association grant projects may also provide these services to their members. These services include: 

• Market development, marketing plans, and sales planning 

• Business and financial planning 

• Disaster preparedness to flooding, and/or other crises 

• Succession planning for next generation business owners 

• Access to capital 

• Manufacturing efficiencies or process flow 

• Business research and development 

• Workforce development 

Producer association grant projects may relate to the development of the association itself in addition to or instead of providing the above services to members. Association development projects may include: 

• Leadership and organizational development: Leadership development, strategic planning, leadership transition support/succession planning; board training and capacity building, by-law development, committee work, staff recruitment and/or training 

• Membership development: Member recruitment and outreach, networking across businesses, web/communications capacity building, member skill building and exchanges, development of digital portals or tools for members 

• Network building and collaboration: Initiatives that support collaborations between producer associations for improved efficiency and organizational sustainability 

Applicant organizations/businesses should be based in Vermont. Businesses or organizations headquartered outside of VT can be eligible if the project or service being proposed is 100% focused on Vermont’s working landscape and businesses. Please contact Elizabeth.Sipple@vermont.gov to discuss eligibility for out-of-state applicants.

All organizational structures are eligible.

• Applicants that previously applied for and/or received funds from a Working Lands grant or contract can re-apply for funding. Applicants who are current or previous grantees must explain whether the proposed project builds on previous work or is a separate project, as well as demonstrate how continued funding will be used to grow or improve the program. Services must be provided to a new cohort of businesses for each funding period.  

1. Review the full Request for Applications for the complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.

2. Register in WebGrants (may take up to two business days).

3. Visit the Working Lands application frequently asked questions for resources and to get support on your application. 

4. Complete your application in WebGrants using our Application Guide.

• Request for Applications

• FY26 WLEI Service Provider and Producer Association Grant RFA.pdf