Description
The Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (CT RC&D) is pleased to offer a Climate Smart Agriculture Grant program as part of the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant (CSAFG), funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry grant established by the Community Investment Act (C.G.S. Sec. 22-26k). The purpose of the grant funds is to implement, support, or expand climate smart agricultural practices related to on-farm energy (energy efficiency and renewable energy) and/or soil health equipment and practices.
Elligibility
Agricultural producers, including aquaculture and forestry producers, singularly or jointly, whether such producers are owners or tenants of existing agribusiness within the State of Connecticut
Agricultural cooperatives, non-profit organizations, municipalities, and sole proprietors applying cooperatively with an agricultural producer
All production types, including conventional/organic, indoor/outdoor, soil/water, urban/rural, etc.
New/beginning farms* (operations in production 1-3 years)
* For the purpose of this grant, New/Beginning Farms are defined as those that have been both in operation and production for at least one full year prior to the application submission date. If you are applying for the April 2024 deadline, your current farm company must have completed the following prior to April of 2023:
— Registered as a business with the CT Secretary of State’s office or have obtained a Notarized Certificate of Trade Name through the applicant’s Town Clerk,
— Acquired the Farmers’ Tax Exemption Permit through the CT Department of Revenue Services,
— One full year of production on the farm business property (whether owned or rented) where the proposed project will be implemented/installed (in production since 2023).
Established farms (operations in production 3+ years)
Priority points will be given to projects which support historically underserved farmers*, including BIPOC producers, veterans, new and beginning farmers (farming for 1-3 years), anyone in a protected class, anyone who speaks English as a second language.
*As defined by the CT Department of Agriculture for the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant funding.
Available Funding
Grant awards will not exceed $25,000 for Tier 1 and $50,000 for Tier 2 per farm applicant.
Length of Contracts
Grant recipients are allotted one year from the contract date to implement/install the project. This is followed by one year of required monitoring/reporting to CT RC&D.
Contact
Sarah Layton, Agricultural Programs Coordinator, at slayton@ctrcd.org or call 860-345-3977 ext. 102.