If you have a grant to share with the network, please join the relevant listservs and share those opportunities on those lists. For collaborative grant proposal development, please work with your working group. Details on how to join OCFSN listservs can be found - https://ocfsn.org/connected

• Learn more about Federal Farm Bill Programs & Grants

• RD and the Healthy Food Financing Initiative are now accepting funding inquiry submissions for the Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund which aims to improve access to fresh, healthy food through food retail and food retail supply chain projects. Submit Funding Inquiry Form by Oct. 14, 2024.

• Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center are making available over $3.7 million to farm and food businesses in first round of Business Builder Grants. Apply by Oct. 15, 2024.

• U.S. Department of Interior Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program provides financial support for federally recognized Tribal Nations and authorized Tribal organizations to address current and future climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust including food sovereignty and conservation practices. Apply by Oct. 18, 2024.

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board’s Restoration Grants
  OWEB is accepting applications for its Restoration Grants for riparian habitat projects including: enhancing riparian vegetation communities; treating invasive weed species; exclusion fencing; and improved livestock management. Projects must provide watershed benefits through protection and restoration of watershed processes and functions that improve habitat or water quality. Eligible entities include Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Councils, nonprofits and others, so farmers/ranchers will need to work with one of those entities to apply. Apply by October 28, 2024. More information here. 

• Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program. Apply by Oct. 31, 2024.

• 2024 Seeding Advocacy grants from Seeding Justice to launch in October. Funding advocacy is a crucial component of movement building—without it, organizations cannot engage in systems change at a large scale. To support organizations in the upcoming long legislative session, Seeding Justice will open funding through the Seeding Advocacy program next month. Seeding Advocacy provides up to $20,000 in project support to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations engaged in community-driven public policy, advocacy and community organizing that is focused on systems change. Look for next month's newsletter for more details. 

• National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program has approximately $4.8 million available to fight food insecurity through developing community food projects that promote self-sufficiency of communities. Apply by Nov. 7, 2024.

• OCFSN's Disaster Resilience for Farmer and Rancher Grant Round 2 applications are expected to open in November 2024.

• 2025 Community Technology Grants funding cycle at MHCRC will open October 16. Deadline for Pre-Applications due Dec 5, 2024. Learn more here.

• For Portland-area nonprofits, New Seasons is accepting applications for their Bag It Forward program. Apply by Dec 31, 2024. Learn more here.

  Upcoming 2025 opportunities:

• FSA’s Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program is now open to small and medium-sized businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Apply by Jan. 31. 2025.

• OCFSN's Food Hub Worker Safety & Infrastructure Grant Round 2 expected to open in February 2025.

• RD’s Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program funds many facility types including local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses. Limited to areas with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census data. Open Year Round.