New Business Builder Grant for Northeast Farm & Food Businesses

The Northeast Regional Food Business Center recently launched the first round of Business Builder sub-awards, designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by providing direct funding to small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses in the Northeast.

$10 million will be made available in this grant round, with awards ranging from $15,000 to $100,000 to support businesses in scaling their operations, expanding markets, and connecting various segments of the regional food supply chain.

Eligible applicants include farm and local food businesses as well as non-profits operating along the supply chain, including aggregators, distributors, and retailers. Applicants must have $1 million or less in annual sales or $350,000 or less in annual sales, depending on the funding track. Projects must be focused on food produced regionally for human consumption.

Applicants may apply to one of three specialized funding tracks:

• Track 1: Equipment ($25,000 - $50,000) - Supports the purchase of special-purpose equipment for post-harvest activities, including processing, storage, and transportation. Businesses with $350,000 or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.
• Track 2: Business Development ($15,000 - $25,000) - Supports business financial acumen and industry knowledge. Businesses with $350,000 or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.
• Track 3: Product & Market Expansion ($50,000 - $100,000) - Assists businesses in expansion through new products, broader markets and wider distribution. Businesses with $1M or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.

This grant cannot fund: purchasing land, buildings, or real estate; construction, demolition, or major rehabilitation of any building, structure, or land; non-specialized equipment, such as tractors or trailers; costs associated with the production of an agricultural product, such as seeds or fertilizer.

Applications are due by April 7th. Awardees will be announced in July, and funded projects are anticipated to begin activities in August.

If your business is based in a Vermont community of 5,000 people or less, you may be eligible for grant writing assistance through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program. To inquire about this assistance, please contact Mariah.