Funding Ideas to Help Offset Equipment Costs

Through creative planning, preparation, and a review of what's available, it is possible to track down funding to help pay for the costs of an EBT machine and other startup costs. For example, the Wisconsin Public Services Commission (http://psc.wi.gov/) provided grants for Fondy Market in Milwaukee. Other markets have received funding from churches or individual benefactors. Once you identify potential sources, your project should be easy to pitch. After all, you are working to connect low income families with local farmers.

These federal grants are available in certain cases:

• USDA Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program
• USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
• Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Agriculture Development and Diversification (ADD) Grant Program

For useful information about applying for such grants, visit:
http://www.foodsecurity.org/funding.html

If you need assistance writing grants, consider contacting the following organizations:

• The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute offers grant-writing assistance to underserved farmers:
  • http://www.michaelfieldsaginst.org/programs/policy/producer_grantwriting_assistance.html
• For a list of grant writers who may have varying experience with FMPP, visit:
  • http://aic.uwex.edu/programs/VAPG.cfm

Other Funding resources are detailed at:

• Farmers' Market Coalition
• Farmers' Market Consortium Guide