Up to $ 114,000 will be awarded to support increased access to healthy food
SANTA FE, NM – Farm to Table's (FTT) New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program (NMFIP) is opening the 2025 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Urban Agriculture Initiative Micro-Grant funding opportunity on January 6, 2025.
In 2024, NMFIP awarded the first round of micro grants to 14 farms from 9 New Mexico counties, totaling $114,000. The projects ranged from season extension, soil amendments, high tunnels, greenhouse expansion, a greenhouse hydroponics grow tower expansion project, aquaponics expansion, farm renovation, high desert permaculture, microgreens, a school hydroponic garden, weatherizing wash stations.
The 2025 Micro-Grant application will open on Monday, January 6, 2025. The deadline for applications to be submitted is Monday, February 3, 2025. Grant funds must be expended and projects completed by November 30, 2025. NMFIP will host an informational webinar/Q&A from 46:00pm on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. NMFIP will award up to $114,000 in competitive grants in amounts of up to $20,000 each to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers across New Mexico which increase or improve healthy food access in urban and Tribal communities.
These Micro-Grants will be awarded through Farm to Table’s New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban Agriculture Initiative. Agricultural producers, political subdivisions of the state or local government, Tribal entities and agencies, and nonprofit organizations which meet the criteria are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to proposals that give attention to historically underserved farmers in urban communities.
The objective and goals of the program are:
• Implement conservation practices that will improve resilience to climate change and on-farm sustainability practices.
• Increase underserved farmers’ capacity for growing food, expanding operations, implementing climate- friendly practices, and building resilience to a changing climate.
• Provide supplies, equipment and technical assistance to farmers who provide healthy food to underserved urban populations.
• Support farmers who may not qualify for other USDA funding.
• Priority will be given to proposals that give attention to historically underserved farmers in urban communities.
For eligibility criteria, eligible expenses and other information, and to register for the webinar, please visit our website at www.farmtotablenm. org/farmer-innovation- program-micro-grants .