2019- Season extender grant applicant information |
Season Extension Application Introduction
Growing It Forward
Season Extender Grant Program
The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is invested in increasing agricultural producers’ ability to expand their growing capacity and markets for local food with season extenders. In addition, HDFFA would like to improve access to local food for underserved populations through donations to NeighborImpact Food Bank. HDFFA is offering producers the opportunity to apply for Season Extender Grants through our Growing it Forward project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Community Food Project grant.
HDFFA’s overall goal is to increase food production opportunities and low income access to fresh food with season extenders in Central Oregon. To meet this goal, HDFFA is providing small grants to agricultural producers to build season extender infrastructure from summer 2018-2020 or until funds are exhausted.
The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is invested in increasing agricultural producers’ ability to expand their growing capacity and markets for local food with season extenders. In addition, HDFFA would like to improve access to local food for underserved populations through donations to NeighborImpact Food Bank. HDFFA is offering producers the opportunity to apply for Season Extender Grants through our Growing it Forward project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Community Food Project grant.
HDFFA’s overall goal is to increase food production opportunities and low income access to fresh food with season extenders in Central Oregon. To meet this goal, HDFFA is providing small grants to agricultural producers to build season extender infrastructure from summer 2018-2020 or until funds are exhausted.
The expected outcomes of the program are to increase:
- Knowledge of greenhouse management, plant selection and succession planting; and other topics
- Viability and profitability of agricultural producers
- Local food markets for Central Oregon consumers
- Amount of fresh food delivered to food pantries/banks
- Self-reliance and confidence in using season extenders
Grant Awards
The total funding available in 2019 is $8,500. Grants will range from $500-$3500 depending on the type of project and funding request. Grant funds will be allocated as follows: 50% at the beginning of the project to purchase supplies and 50% after the project is complete and the required documentation has been submitted. Grant funds can be used for the following purposes (labor is not an eligible expense):
The total funding available in 2019 is $8,500. Grants will range from $500-$3500 depending on the type of project and funding request. Grant funds will be allocated as follows: 50% at the beginning of the project to purchase supplies and 50% after the project is complete and the required documentation has been submitted. Grant funds can be used for the following purposes (labor is not an eligible expense):
- Direct payment for goods to a vendor (for example, purchasing building materials)
- Reimbursement for purchasing of supplies (pre-approval required)
Funds are authorized ONLY for projects that extend a farmer’s growing season:
- Purchasing of supplies to build a protective structure used to grow food (i.e. caterpillar tunnel, high tunnel, greenhouse)
- Purchasing of instruments or materials for use in a existing or new season extender that contributes to or improves a farmer’s ability to extend the growing season (i.e. thermometers, fans, etc.)
Selection Criteria
Grants awards will be prioritized based upon the following and determined in your application:
- Project meets overall Growing It Forward grant goals to expand growing season
- Overall clarity and project detail
- A detailed line item budget
- Impact of project on your farm
- quantity of food grown
- diversity of food grown
- expansion of current market or to different markets
- increase length of growing season
- economic sustainability
For more information on participatory requirements, submission process, award fulfillment and important dates, please click here.