WNC AgOptions Grant

The Western North Carolina Agricultural Options (WNC AgOptions) program supports individual farm businesses in the mountain region of North Carolina by providing strategic funding to farmers pursuing diversification or expansion. The grant is funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and administered in partnership with WNC Communities and N.C. Cooperative Extension. Additional guidance is provided by representatives from the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, and other local agricultural leaders. The primary objective of the program is to build sustainable farming communities by investing in individual projects that improve farm viability and promote economic sustainability. The 2026 WNC AgOptions grant offers $10,000 per recipient for projects that align with its mission to foster farm diversification and innovation. Funding may be used for a wide range of production and marketing expenses, including seeds, livestock, equipment, signage, packaging, fencing, and other farm infrastructure. However, funds cannot be used for disaster recovery, labor, land purchases, or any expenses incurred outside the grant period of January 5 through December 31, 2026. Each grant requires a minimum 10% financial match by the applicant, and total project budgets must exceed the $10,000 award by at least that amount. Eligible applicants are residents of the 22 western counties served by the NC Cooperative Extension West District. Farms must be family-run operations where the owners assume financial responsibility and handle the majority of management decisions. Nonprofits, corporately owned farms, and individuals affiliated with certain agricultural agencies or committees are not eligible. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their farming experience, income from agricultural products, insurance coverage, tax filings, and community involvement. Priority is given to applicants with sustainable farming goals, prior tobacco production history, and those who have not received more than five WNC AgOptions or RAFI grants totaling $30,000. The grant process involves several key steps. Applicants are advised to attend an optional informational session in August or September 2025. A required pre-application step, the "Intent to Apply," must be completed by speaking with a local NC Cooperative Extension agent and submitting a form by September 26, 2025. The full application is due by November 14, 2025, with email submissions due by noon on that date. All submissions must be complete, in PDF format, and follow specific naming conventions. Confirmation of receipt is provided for all applications. Applications are reviewed by a committee of approximately 25 agriculture professionals using a numeric scoring system. Final decisions are made by the WNC AgOptions Steering Committee. Selected grantees are notified the week of January 5, 2026, and are required to attend an orientation workshop on January 29, 2026. Grant funds are disbursed in three installments: the first at orientation, the second upon submission of a business plan by May 31, 2026, and the final $500 after submission of receipts and final reporting by December 31, 2026. Applicants must submit various supporting materials, including two letters of support detailing involvement in the proposed project. They are also required to complete a notarized certification of tax compliance and absence of conflicts of interest. The contact for this grant is WNC AgOptions, reachable at agoptions@wnccommunities.org or (828) 252-4783. Applications should be mailed or hand-delivered to WNC Communities at 594 Brevard Rd., Asheville, NC 28806, or emailed as directed in the application guide.

Review grant writing tips on the WNC AgOptions website; attend an informational session; talk to your Extension Agent early; include detailed budgets; and obtain two strong letters of support.