Vermont Grants

This grant provides funding to early education programs in Vermont to enhance children's appreciation for the arts through partnerships with qualified teaching artists and arts organizations, particularly focusing on underserved communities.

The AARP Vermont Winter Placemaking Grant Program, open to eligible local organizations and communities, offers financial support ranging from $1000 to $10,000 for projects aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and appeal of spaces for older adults, with a focus on enhancing community design and livability during the winter months.

This grant provides funding for tax-exempt organizations and local government agencies to support community-focused projects and activities in Coös County, NH, and neighboring areas in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that deliver high-quality early childhood education and family services to low-income children and families across multiple states in the U.S.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is offering the Resilient Food System Infrastructure grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, to support Vermont-based businesses and organizations in strengthening local and regional food systems by increasing market access, production, and product diversity, with a focus on creating new revenue streams and economic opportunities, improving job quality, and enhancing compliance with food safety requirements.

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the field of public art in New England by providing professional development support directly to artists. Donor Name: New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the public art field in the region by supporting artists in further developing the skills, resources, and connections they need to build a more vibrant and equitable community of practice in the region. Learning in partnership with grantees, NEFA strives to learn how we may be able to better support a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem throughout the region. Funding Priorities Public Art Learning Fund equips artists with skills, resources, and connections to strengthen public art practices that contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. The Public Art Learning Fund gives priority to timely opportunities that are: Specifically expanding an artist’s public art practice. NEFA will look for clarity on desired learnings and application to artist’s public art practice. Equitably contributing to more just and inclusive public artmaking in the region. Artists at various stages in their public artmaking practice from urban, suburban, and rural communities across all six states in New England are welcome to apply. NEFA values diverse cultural and artistic expressions as essential to more equitable and vibrant public spaces and recognizes that some artists may experience barriers to accessing professional development opportunities due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography. The Public Art Learning Fund intends to prioritize equity in funding opportunities. This may include but is not limited to prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or are rooted in rural communities. Funding Information The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $ 3000. For opportunities that take place January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicant must be an artist who resides full-time and makes work in one of the six New England States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) Applicant must be an artist whose artistic practice engages the public realm or who can demonstrate that they are in the process of expanding their artistic practice towards public artmaking Applicant must have a Creative Ground profile. Proposed professional development opportunity must: specifically relate to strengthening the applicant artist’s own public art practice take place during the grant period For more information, visit NEFA.

This grant provides funding to New England nonprofit organizations for touring projects that feature regional, national, or international artists, with a focus on community engagement and expanding access to the arts, particularly in rural and BIPOC communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on improving their services for low- to moderate-income and historically underserved communities through strategic investments in planning, staff development, and technology.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and public entities in implementing programs that benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and historically underserved communities.

The "Vermont NRCS FY24 Conservation Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships Announcement for Funding" is a funding opportunity by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, offering up to $1.2 million to local governments, tribal governments, non-profits, and educational institutions in Vermont for projects that enhance natural resource management, increase conservation delivery, and support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through strategic partnerships.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects throughout the Northeast. Donor Name: Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The goal of this program is to help develop competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability, supporting operations of all sizes in successfully launching and sustaining their products in the marketplace.  This program is for:  Dairy farmers ready to begin processing,  Value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing and/or value-added business startups, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market, or  Dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in the start-up phase of business development. Funds are intended to support start-up operations, focusing on tangible implementation rather than research and development, concept development, or initial planning. Funding Information Total available funds: $500,000 Minimum: $15,000  Maximum: $75,000 Project Period Grant periods will range from 12 – 18 months, depending on the project.  Eligibility Criteria This grant is open to applicants from all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:  Dairy farmer that:  Produces milk within the Northeast  Is a licensed dairy operation in compliance with all required state and federal standards  Value-added business entrepreneur that meets the following requirements:  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components  Has a business entity prior to applying  Can demonstrate experience in dairy processing and/or related value-added business startup, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market  Dairy processor established after January 1, 2023 that:  Has a business entity and milk processing license prior to applying  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components.  Is in the start-up phase of business operations All applicants must also:  Be headquartered or based in the Northeast  Provide Proof of Concept demonstrating the viability of the business idea and product  Have a plan for new value-added dairy processing that includes market research, financial projections, a branding and marketing strategy, and a facility location  Obtain licenses to sell dairy products across state lines by the end of the grant period Launch their products in the marketplace or have a Letter of Commitment from a buyer, distributor, or retailer indicating plans to sell the product by the end of the grant period For more information, visit NE-DBIC.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is pleased to announce the 2025 Mobility and Transportation Innovation (MTI) Grant Program. Donor Name: Vermont Agency of Transportation State: Vermont County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MTI grant performance metrics are focused on the following goals: To improve mobility and access for transit dependent Vermonters Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles Complement existing mobility investments Focal Areas Extension of existing TDM programs Creation of new TDM programs Creation and marketing of TDM Resources Expansion of first mile/last mile programs Support for employers and/or employees to adopt TDM measures (including incentives), in collaboration with an existing or new TDM program provider Implementation of planned TDM programs (bike share, car share, microtransit, etc.) Funds Can Be Used For Match funds for other TDM grant awards TDM program delivery costs Microtransit Planning and Implementation Capital and operational expenses Categories  Categories and some suggested project types are outlined below. Small MTI Grants (Grant Amounts around $10,000)  Eligible projects under this category could include: Planning of new TDM programs or resources Expansion of first mile/last mile programs Creation and marketing of TDM Resources Medium MTI Grants (Grant Amounts around $50,000) Eligible projects under this category could include: Marketing and outreach of TDM programs Expansion of first mile/last mile programs Support for employers and/or employees to adopt TDM measures (including incentives) in collaboration with an existing or new TDM program provider Planning for TDM programs (bike share, car share, microtransit, etc.) Large MTI Grants (Grant Amounts around $100,000+)  Eligible projects under this category could include: Implementation Capital purchases Eligibility Criteria The grant applications are open to municipalities, local or regional planning agencies, transit agencies, school districts or schools, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups focused on providing public transportation resources. Private sector organizations, individuals, State and Federal agencies are not eligible to receive funds directly but may be partners of a project. For more information, visit Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Applicants are invited to apply for the New England States Touring Grant Program. Donor Name: New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: There are three distinct grant opportunities for New England nonprofit organizations: NEST 1, NEST 2, and NEST 3. Organizations serving rural communities and/or deeply engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are encouraged to apply. NEST 1 Funds the public presentation and engagement of a New England artist presented by a New England nonprofit organization based in a different New England state from the artist’s home state. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory. NEST 2 Funds the public presentation and community engagement activities of a New England artist presented by two New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include one presenting organization based inside of the artist’s home state and one other organization from outside of the artist’s home state. Both presenting organizations must submit their own application and both applications must be submitted at the same deadline. There are three application deadlines each year. They are the first business days of August, December, and March. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory. NEST 3 Funds tours, including public presentation and community engagement activities, of regional, national, or international artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include a minimum of three New England organizations in different communities presenting the same artist. The organizations applying must be from at least two different New England states. Each organization is responsible for reviewing the program goals and criteria, negotiating the terms of the engagement with the artist, and completing a NEST 3 application. Organizations may submit up to three NEST 3 applications. The annual deadline is the first business day of March. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee to a maximum of $10,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. New England artists must be listed as NEST-eligible on Creative Ground. For non-New England artists, an artist work sample must be submitted by one of the touring partners. Grant period: Touring projects must occur between June 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. Funding Criteria The amount of funding awarded is based on the extent to which the project meets the criteria. NEST 3 projects will be assessed on the individual strength of each partner’s application and the collective strength of the tour. The funding criteria are: Clear rationale for how the project aligns with the organization’s arts programming goals and its significance for the community. Collaborative planning among tour partners and artists to provide a meaningful experience for the artist and partner organizations and their communities. The featured artist(s) should be included in project planning. (Applicable for NEST 2 & 3 only). Additional activities beyond the performance, which provide opportunities for the artist(s) in this engagement to meaningfully connect with various sectors of the community. Cross-sector exchanges (connecting arts and non-arts organizations) and collaboration are strongly encouraged. Expands access to the arts for all New England communities, including rural and/or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. NEFA acknowledges structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, language, culture, and geography, and strives to counter those inequities in our work. NEFA strongly encourages charging admission to performances and events for the following reasons: Admissions are a vital source of income to help pay artist fees and other event expenses. Admissions remind audiences that the work of artists has distinct value and that the professionals involved must make a living from their endeavors in order to continue. Admissions purchased through advance ticket sales help ensure attendance. Admissions purchases provide patron information that can aid in marketing, fundraising, and audience development. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for NEST funding, applicants must: Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, school, federally recognized Indian tribal government, or unit of state or local government. (Nonprofit organizations do not have to be arts organizations. Organizations that do not have a federal tax identification number may apply if part of an official government agency). Fiscal agents cannot be funded through NEST. Be based in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). Have a Unique Entity ID in SAM.gov. For more information, visit NEFA.

The purpose of this program is to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in rural Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) service areas through supporting the recruitment and retention of behavioral health care providers.

This program provides funding to local organizations in Waterbury to support recreational activities and projects that engage the community.

This program provides funding to Vermont municipalities for the development of safe and convenient Park and Ride facilities to encourage carpooling and reduce vehicle emissions.

The Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) announces the availability of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for the Presidential Declaration DR-4720 Severe Flooding. Up to $64,170,000 is available for hazard mitigation projects and up to $4,830,000 for planning activities. The program supports projects aimed at enhancing resilience, reducing loss of life, and minimizing damages to property. Eligible applicants include local governments, state agencies, and certain non-profits performing government-like functions. Priority is given to projects that benefit frontline and disadvantaged communities and those that align with the Vermont State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Pre-applications are accepted on a continual basis until August 16, 2024. Projects must be proven cost-effective through a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA). VEM provides technical assistance throughout the application process. HMGP funding is available statewide and does not need to be related to damages from the July 2023 flood.

The Connection, Health, & Equity through Food (CHEF) Grant Program is a collaborative network of organizations and volunteer initiatives across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Eastern Massachusetts, and Upstate New York that are focused on increasing older adults’ equitable access to healthy food and social connection. Donor Name: Maine Council on Aging State: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Connection, Health, & Equity through Food (CHEF) grant program will provide funding to increase older adults’ equitable access to food and social connections in their communities. Grants will allow awardees to make investments in programmatic infrastructure, sustainably expand current programming and/or launch innovative, new programming that supports the food and social connection needs of older people. Priority will be given to projects and programs that serve diverse older people, veterans, and older people living with disabilities. Funds can also be used to help find solutions to the root causes of food insecurity and social isolation, including but not limited to poverty, transportation, rurality, and language barriers. The CHEF program is administered by the Maine Council on Aging. Purpose The focus of this grant program is to increase older adults’ equitable access to healthy food and social connection, with a particular focus on rural communities and underserved and marginalized older people including: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) LGBTQ+- (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer or Questioning) Women Veterans People Living with Disabilities People Living in Rural Communities. Funding Information The minimum amount that can be requested is $500. Although no maximum has been set, they would anticipate that most grants would be in the $2,000 – $10,000 range. Eligibility Criteria  The grant-funded activity must primarily serve older people. Thus, if your program serves people of all ages, you should provide data on the number of older people served, and this number must be 50.1% of the overall population served, or the grant-funded activity should focus primarily on the older adults currently being served. Grants will only be made to applicants serving older people in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Eastern Massachusetts, and Upstate New York. Applicants must serve people who may access a Hannaford Supermarket to purchase food. The organization itself does not have to be located in a community with a Hannaford store. As an example, any statewide organization in one of these states would qualify. Regional organizations that serve at least one community with a Hannaford Supermarket qualify, even if the other communities do not. They recognize that people in some rural areas may drive a substantial distance for groceries, so they will be liberal in interpreting this restriction. Eligible Organizations: Public and non-profit organizations Municipalities Faith Groups Tribal Governments Educational Institutions Note: If you do not have an IRS nonprofit or 501(c)3 designation, please find a fiscal sponsor for your program/idea. For more information, visit Maine Council on Aging.

The "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 Vermont" is a funding opportunity offering up to $1,000,000 to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in Vermont, with individual awards not exceeding $200,000, and applications are due by September 30, 2024.

The Vermont Community Foundation is seeking proposals from Vermont villages, towns, and cities that close the opportunity gap by supporting local efforts to foster inclusion and belonging for people of all races and backgrounds. Donor Name: The Vermont Community Foundation State: Vermont County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Foundation recognizes the powerful leadership roles that local governments can play in removing structural barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse state, and want to support communities in fulfilling that potential. This grant program, which was developed in cooperation with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity, is intended to support communities participating in the IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Action, and Leadership) Vermont program. A limited number of grants continue to be available for communities not participating in the IDEAL program. The vision they hope to advance with this grant program is a Vermont where: All people feel connected to their communities, and do not feel afraid to visit, live, or conduct business in certain towns because of a reputation for exclusion, intolerance, or bias, nor because of a person’s own appearance Businesses and local governing bodies can easily recruit or be led by people who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) because they feel safe and supported as members of the community Educators, students, local leaders, and families have tools and resources to handle issues of discrimination, exclusion, intolerance, or bias as soon as they happen It doesn’t matter how long someone has lived here to be considered a part of the community. Funding Information This program will award grants of up to $10,000 for an 18-month project period. The Foundation funds  The Foundation recognizes that Vermont communities are starting in different places in their work on equity, inclusion, and belonging, and that communities will need different things at different times. They welcome communities at all stages of learning. They also acknowledge that a single project will not address all of a community’s equity and inclusion challenges, and that this work is an ongoing process, so they seek to fund proposals that help a municipality make progress in its learning and actions. Because of this, the program is open to a range of proposals that meet locally defined community needs. This may include: Requests for funding to support consultant-led work within a community introductory trainings on diversity, equity, and inclusion implicit bias trainings equity assessments planning efforts review of hiring practices Community-wide conversations Support for the creation and work of municipal equity committees Stipends for community members to be involved in the work (for example, so that people can take time off work, pay for child care or transportation, or otherwise have their time appropriately compensated) Or a combination of these activities. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants are Vermont cities, towns, and villages. Nonprofit organizations or community groups doing work on behalf of and in coordination with a city, town, or village may apply if a letter of support from the municipal partner is included Grant applications will be accepted from organizations that are located in or serve the people of Vermont. Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a public agency or municipality in the state of Vermont. Nonprofit organizations or community groups who do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply for grant awards if another tax-exempt organization acts as a fiscal sponsor. For more information, visit TVCF.