Growing Community Resilience and Food Access in the Garden
The Land Access & Opportunity Board (LAOB) and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) are pleased to announce funding for projects advancing community and collective gardening. Eligible applicants are entities that work to increase equitable food access and food sovereignty for historically underserved communities including Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), People with Disabilities, Low-income People, LGBTQIA+ People, Refugees and Immigrants through community and collective gardening projects. VHCB has a minimum of $50,000 available in funding for grants of up to $15,000 for up to two-year terms. Please see the full application instructions for more information on funding priorities and how to apply.
Business Plan Implementation Grants
2025 Applications are now closed – award decisions will be shared June 2025
When funding is available, Farm & Forest Viability Implementation Grants are available on a competitive basis to businesses that have completed an up-to-date business plan or transfer plan through the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program to help implement specific goals of the business plans created through the program.
Overview & Eligibility
The Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program is pleased to announce that grants of $1,000 to $8,000 are available on a competitive basis to Viability Program clients who participated in the program in 2023 or 2024. A completed
business or transfer plan is required in order to apply. Applications are due Friday, MAy 2nd, 2025, and decisions will be made in June 2025.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, business infrastructure construction, equipment, machinery upgrades, and energy efficiency projects that help a business meet business goals determined through their planning work. Funded projects will be closely aligned with goals as outlined in applicants’ business or transfer plans.
Read about previously awarded Implementation Grants at the bottom of these pages: FY 2024, FY 2023 and FY 2022. Find our program flyer here.
Information for Businesses with Open Implementation Grants
If you have an open VHCB Implementation Grant and would like to request reimbursement of grant funds, have an update on your project, or have other questions please reach out to:
Betsy McGavisk at betsy [@] VHCB.org or (802) 828-5562.
If your project is complete, you will be asked to submit copies of project invoices/receipts that demonstrate grant funds and any required match has been spent. Next, we will send you disbursement form to complete. Finally, you will be mailed a check to your IRS mailing address. In total, this process make take several weeks. Partial reimbursements prior to project completion are available in extenuating circumstances, and please be in touch if you would like to discuss this option.
Water Quality Grants
Applications are currently closed. Please check back in Fall 2025 for information on the next grant round.
The Farm & Forest Viability Program provides grants of up to $50,000 to help Vermont farmers invest in water quality-related on-farm infrastructure. This program is funded by the State of Vermont.
Overview & Eligibility
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) is eligible for this award. We will consider applications from non-farm entities playing an integral role in water quality management on farms, such as custom operators or non-profits. Please contact staff to ensure your entity is eligible prior to applying.
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: Applications for equipment must include a price quote).
Awards require 1-1 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 grants, federal awards, or farm cash, loans, or in-kind labor. Awards will be paid on a reimbursement basis upon the receipt of project invoices once the project is complete. For projects that require state or federal funds to move forward (USDA-NRCS, VAAFM BMP or CEAP), we will strongly prioritize projects that have already applied to these agencies and/or have contracts in place.
Read about previously awarded Water Grants in FY 2023 and FY 2022.
If you have questions about this grant, please contact Betsy McGavisk at betsy@vhcb.org or 802-828-5562.
Farms With Open Grants
If you currently have an open VHCB Water Quality Grant and would like to request disbursement of funds, have an update on your project, or have other questions please reach out to Betsy McGavisk betsy@vhcb.org or (802) 828-5562.
Funds may be disbursed once the project is complete and once invoices demonstrating that the award amount and the required match has been spent. Partial disbursements are available in extenuating circumstances. Please be in touch if you would like more information.
