Agricultural Cranberry Enhancement Program (ACEP)

What you need for Agricultural Cranberry Enhancement Program (ACEP)

Overview & Goals:

The goal of the Agricultural Cranberry Enhancement Program (ACEP) is to provide funding to implement practices that demonstrate an innovative approach to enhance environmental benefits and encourage increased economic activity in the cranberry sector. 

Eligible Projects: 

Projects that work towards increasing on-farm efficiencies, lower operating costs, and increase revenue while enhancing environmental benefits. 

Examples include: 

• Harvest Equipment/ Fruit Containment Booms
• Irrigation Upgrades
• Fertilizer Equipment
• Fruit Handling & Screening Technology
• Spraying Rigs
• Bog Efficiency Upgrades (ramps, ditch alteration, routing pipes, etc.)

Eligible Applicants: 

Cranberry operations as defined by M.G.L. c. 128, Section1A that are principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture or farming for commercial purposes and:

• To be eligible for participation in the Program, a Responder must own, or be a Co-Responder with the owner, who has a legal interest in the land whether by deed or written agreement and approval to implement the project on the property, which must be in active agricultural use and managed as a commercial enterprise by the Responder for at least the three (3) previous years. This three (3) year management requirement may be waived if the operator has substantial direct management experience in farming;
• Are legally recognized entities within the Commonwealth and have the ability to enter a legally binding agreement with the Commonwealth;
• Awards are limited to one (1) per agricultural operation using a unique tax identification number per round of funding;
• Priority will be given to applicants who are established in commercial agriculture and whose primary source of income is derived from the agricultural operation and that do not anticipate any change of ownership in the next five years;
• Have demonstrated the capacity to implement and administer projects and programs as defined in the responsive proposals to this RFR.

Maximum Funding: 

• Maximum funding per applicant is 85% of total project costs up to $50,000.
• A minimum cash match of 15% of total project costs is required. 

Deadlines:

• Application must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday, February 28th, 2020.
• Contract end date is June 30th, 2020 with no options for extension.