DEM announces farm-viability grants

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management has announced $150,000 in farm-viability grant funding for projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Rhode Island.”
The funds are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program. According to a statement, specialty crops are defined by the program as “fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts and nursery crops, including floriculture, honey, hops and turf-grass production.”
Grant awards will range from $10,000 to $50,000 with no direct match required. Funding will be provided in two stages, with 50 percent of the monies given upfront and the remainder provided at the satisfactory completion of the project. The grants may be used for projects of up to two years in duration.
A downloadable application is available at www.rigrown.ri.gov by clicking “Grant Opportunities” on the left side of the homepage. •