Agricultural Composting Improvement Grant Program (ACIP)

The Agricultural Composting Improvement Grant Program provides reimbursement funding for equipment and infrastructure that helps Massachusetts agricultural composting operations improve material handling, compost processing, site management, environmental performance, and the use of finished compost. Applications are submitted through the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Program (CSAP).

Is this program right for your project?

This program may be a good fit if your project will:

• Improve irrigation or water-use efficiency
• Improve soil health or reduce soil erosion
• Protect water quality or reduce agricultural runoff
• Improve nutrient or manure management
• Increase resilience to drought, flooding, excessive rainfall, or other climate-related impacts
• Improve environmental monitoring or precision agriculture
• Improve the long-term sustainability and resilience of your agricultural operation

Who can apply?

Eligible Massachusetts agricultural composting operations may apply. Applicants must meet the agricultural-operation, composting-status, operational-history, site-control, and other eligibility requirements in the current RFR.

Applicants may also be required to demonstrate that the operation is properly registered, exempt, or otherwise authorized to conduct agricultural composting activities.

Examples of eligible projects: 

The examples below illustrate common eligible projects and are not intended to be a complete list. Applicants should review the current RFR for complete eligibility requirements.

• Compost turners, mixers, grinders, or screening equipment
• Aerated static pile systems and related equipment
• Feedstock and finished-compost handling equipment
• Compost pads and eligible site improvements
• Drainage, runoff, and leachate-management systems
• Covers, storage systems, or structures that improve compost management
• Equipment used to improve the application or agricultural use of finished compost

What projects are not a good fit?

• General waste disposal 
• Landscaping composting 
• Routine manure management not involving composting

What should the project accomplish?

Projects must address a clearly identified compost-management issue or need. Applicants should explain how the project will improve compost quality, processing efficiency, environmental performance, regulatory compliance, site management, operational control, or the beneficial agricultural use of finished compost.

Funding: 

• Up to $50,000 
• 80% reimbursement
• 20% applicant contribution

Funding limits and eligibility requirements may change by grant round. Applicants must review the current RFR.

How projects are evaluated: 

Reviewers consider:

• The seriousness and clarity of the compost-management issue
• How directly the project addresses the identified need
• Whether the goals and expected outcomes are clear and measurable
• Expected improvements in compost quality, processing efficiency, site management, regulatory compliance, or environmental performance
• The appropriateness of the proposed equipment or infrastructure for the scale of the operation
• Project readiness and feasibility
• Applicant capacity
• Overall project value and funding priority

Reimbursement

Awards are reimbursement-based. Grantees must complete the approved project and provide invoices, proof of payment, photographs, and any other required documentation before payment.

Not sure if this is the right program?

Projects intended primarily to reduce energy use or install renewable energy may be a better fit for the Agricultural Energy Grant Program.

Projects intended primarily to improve food safety, washing, packing, handling, or storage may be a better fit for the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program.

Projects focused primarily on soil health, nutrient management, water quality, or other environmental conservation practices may be a better fit for the Agricultural Climate Resiliency (ACRE) Program.