USDA Announces $9.75 Million in Grant Funding Available through the Acer Access and Development Program and Micro-Grants for Food Security Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced over $9.75 million in funding available through the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP). The funding through these programs will support projects to promote the domestic maple syrup industry and increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in insecure food communities.

Access and Development Program (Acer)

$5.0 million in funding is available through the Acer program to support projects that expand consumer awareness of the maple syrup industry and provide valuable resources to maple syrup producers.

Acer promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. Projects may be awarded for up to 36 months. A 25% cost share of federal funds requested is required.

Eligible applicants include states, tribal governments, and research institutions. All eligible applicants must be located within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Acer is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and funded through annual appropriations.

Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP)

$4.75 million in funding is available through MGFSP to fund projects that support communities that have significant levels of food insecurity and import substantial quantities of food.

MGFSP provides funding to eligible states' and territories' agricultural agencies to competitively subaward projects that support small scale gardening, herding, livestock operations, and other community-based food security initiatives. Organizations or individuals interested in the MGFSP should contact their state department of agriculture for more information on how to apply within the state or territory listed below.

Eligible applicants are agricultural agencies, commissions, or departments in Alaska, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands.

MGFSP is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.

Application Information

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline established on the table below.

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered unless the applicant provides documentation demonstrating an extenuating circumstance that prevented timely submission of the grant application. Read more in the Late, Nonresponsive, and Incomplete Applications Policy on the AMS Policies and Procedures page for more information.

AMS offers informational webinars to provide applicants an overview of program requirements, eligibility, application components, and tips for submitting competitive applications. Participation is encouraged for both new and returning applicants. Webinar dates, times and registration links are available on the AMS Grants Webinars webpage.

Additionally, Frequently Asked Questions are posted on the AMS Grants website, and grants management specialists are standing by to answer any incoming questions and emails during regular business hours.

Application information, including previously funded projects, is available on each program's webpage.

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