CDA Agricultural Enhancement Grant

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program provides financial support to Connecticut municipalities, regional councils of governments, groups of municipalities, and agricultural non-profit organizations to fund projects that enhance agricultural viability. The program is supported by the State of Connecticut Public Act 05-228, which focuses on farmland preservation, land protection, affordable housing, and historic preservation. Funding for the program is contingent on state budget allocations, and awards are available in two tiers, each with specific funding limits and match requirements. The grant aims to support projects that contribute to the viability of Connecticut agriculture through initiatives in youth agricultural education, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in agriculture, urban agriculture, food supply chain improvements, and farmland accessibility. Projects must align with the definition of farming and agriculture outlined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-1(q). Eligible applicants can submit only one application per grant cycle. Tier 1 grants offer a maximum award of $5,000 and require a 25% cash or in-kind match, with projects expected to be completed within 18 months. Tier 2 grants provide a maximum award of $49,999 with a 40% match requirement, and projects must be completed within 24 months. Examples of Tier 1 projects include creating multilingual farm maps, developing marketing materials for farmers’ markets, hiring agricultural experts for training, increasing accessibility of agricultural resources, improving urban farms, and providing financial support for new farmers participating in Certified CT Grown farmers’ markets. Tier 2 projects may involve agricultural education infrastructure improvements, purchasing specialized equipment, supporting DEI initiatives, expanding urban agriculture resources, strengthening the local food supply, establishing meat processing facilities, and enhancing farmland accessibility. Eligible applicants must be Connecticut municipalities with an approved Plan of Conservation and Development, regional councils of governments, groups of municipalities with a regional inter-local agreement, or agricultural non-profit organizations. Non-profits must be registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State, have filed Form 990, and have existed for at least three years. Projects occurring on leased or rented land require a signed Landlord Consent Form. Prior awardees may reapply, but applicants receiving funding for two consecutive years must wait one year before reapplying. Applications must be submitted via the Cognito link on the Agricultural Enhancement Grant website by February 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. A virtual informational webinar will be hosted on January 24, 2025, and office hours will be available on February 4 and February 13, 2025, for applicants to ask questions. Award notifications are expected by April 4, 2025, with contracts for projects under $5,000 starting on May 1, 2025, and projects over $5,000 beginning on May 15, 2025. Grant funds can be used for multimedia marketing, employee salaries (up to 25% of grant funds requested), equipment purchases, consultant fees, rental fees, and stipends. Expenses such as land acquisition, debt service, legal retainers, tuition, and routine business expenses are ineligible. A single advance of up to 50% of the grant award may be requested, with the remaining funds reimbursed upon project completion and submission of required reports. Failure to complete the project or meet reporting requirements may result in reimbursement denial. Awarded grantees must sign a state agreement, provide proof of liability insurance, and allow site inspections before final payment.