HDOA Opens Ag Micro-Grant Program

HDOA News Release

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the popular Micro-Grant for Food Security Program (MGFSP).
This is the fourth year of the grant program which provides support for small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food-insecure communities. A total of $3,576,470 is available, which was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2018 Farm Bill.
This year’s program is open to:
● Individuals, including backyard farmers – for the amount set at $5,000 per applicant.
● Applicants must be a Hawai‘i resident, at least 18 years old and head of the household.
● Organizations registered in Hawai‘i, including Native Hawaiian, nonprofits, federally funded educational facilities – for the amount set at $10,000 per applicant
Organizations receiving awards will be required to provide matching funds of at least 10 percent of the grant. Matching funds cannot be derived from other federal sources.
Previous MGFSP awardees are ineligible.
The application form and program information for individuals are available at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/mgfsp/. The Request for Proposals for organizations is posted at https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/24573
The deadline to apply is noon on Aug. 12.
“The Micro-Grant program is, by far, the most popular of our grant programs as it provides financial resources to individuals and organizations to support small-scale farming,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture.
Consideration will be based on the description of the project, the number of beneficiaries, the outcome production of the project.
Examples of the types of activities that may be funded include:
● Small-Scale Gardening – purchase tools or equipment, soil, seeds, plants, canning equipment, refrigeration, composting equipment, towers, hydroponic and aeroponic farming.
● Small-Scale Herding and Livestock Operations – purchase animals, buy, erect or repair fencing for livestock.
● Apiary – bees and bee boxes, education, expanding food markets.
Individual applicants will have an option to choose one category of three that is offered; Category A – Gardening, Category B – Livestock and Herding, Category C – Apiary.
Organizations will complete a project profile template and present their project selection.
A webinar with information and application instructions is available at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/mgfsp/
Questions may addressed to the MDB at 808-973-9594 or email hdoa.md.microgrants@hawaii.gov.