Announced in February 2025, the Massachusetts Farmland Partnership Program (MFPP) is a new grant program to help implement the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan (MFAP) at the local, regional or statewide level.
The goal of the program is to build networks of Partners who work together collaboratively and in coordination to protect farmland, enhance farm viability, and ensure access to farmland.
This will be achieved by providing funding to eligible partners to work with farmers, farmland owners, agricultural service providers, municipalities and others to protect farmland, enhance farm viability, and ensure access to farmland, as well as coordinate and collaborate between partners as a cohort.
This is longer than typical Request for Responses (RFRs) because:
- we anticipate that applicants will need extra time to understand the new program
- it will take time for partners to prepare strong applications, including collaborative applications that involve multiple partners.
To assist applicants to understand this new program, there will be two pre-application information webinars and two rounds of questions for potential applicants.
Who can apply?
This grant program focuses on providing funding to partners rather than individual farmers. A partner is an entity/organization that can help implement tasks within the Plan. This can include a variety of public, private, non-profit and for-profit entities (see Section 1A of the RFR for further details). Over the last year there have been many conversations with potential partners about how they could get involved with implementation.
- If you have been involved in a conversation about implementing the Farmland Action Plan as a potential partner, please check out the RFR and consider applying!
- If you have not attended a meeting or presentation about the Farmland Action Plan in the last year, it’s not too late to get involved! Check out the RFR to learn more about the effort, use the resources available on the Farmland Action Plan website to catch up and consider applying!
Review the RFR and related materials
Before applying, please read the Request for Response (RFR). It provides a comprehensive summary of grant evaluation criteria, review timelines, award recipient expectations, eligible uses of grant funds, and examples of projects.
- View the RFR in COMMBUYS which includes 4 file attachments.
All proposed activities must be clearly tied to a specific task(s) in the Farmland Action Plan Implementation Matrix. The proposed activity cannot just be inspired by a strategy or action – it must be aligned with a specific task, which includes following the intent of the specific action and strategy under which the task is listed.
The following documents are important to review alongside the RFR:
To assist applicants to understand this new program, there will be two pre-application information webinars and two rounds of questions for potential applicants.
Learn more - Webinars
There will be two webinars which will cover different content.
Tuesday, March 11th from 1-2:30pm
- Strongly recommended applicants attend.
- This webinar will explain the program, including highlighting tips for developing a strong application, and answer initial questions.
- View the presentation slides, video, Q&A responses (see Question section below)
- The event has now passed so registration has closed.
Monday, March 31st from 10-11:30am
- Recommended applicants attend.
- This webinar will explain additional details based on round 1 questions from potential applicants, and answer questions.
- View the presentation slides, video, Q&A responses (to be posted in the Question section below by April 28 at 5pm)
- The event has now passed so registration has closed.
Learn more - Submit questions and see posted answers
There will be two rounds of questions for potential applicants, anticipating some applicants may wish to ask additional questions after receiving answers from the first round of questions.
The deadline dates for submitting questions are as follows:
- Monday, March 17th at 5pm for Round 1
- Friday, April 11th at 5pm for Round 2
Answers will be posted on this webpage.
- Round 1 Questions and Answers Document - Published 3/27/2025
- Round 2.1 Questions and Answers Document - Published 3/28/2025
- Round 2.2 Questions and Answers Document - Published 4/25/2025
Submit your application
Email completed RFR application to MDARfarmlandpartnership@mass.gov. See the RFR for more details.
This is longer than typical Request for Responses (RFRs) because:
- we anticipate that applicants will need extra time to understand the new program
- it will take time for partners to prepare strong applications, including collaborative applications that involve multiple partners.
What to expect after you have submitted your application
1. MDAR reviews your application
MDAR will evaluate all applications submitted by the deadline and will makes award decisions based on the eligibility and evaluation criteria specified in the Request for Response (RFR).
2. Sign a grant agreement with MDAR
If your organization is selected to receive a grant MDAR will issue you an award letter and contract documents that specify the terms and conditions of your award. You will need to sign a Standard Contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a Grant Agreement with MDAR before starting any work or making any purchases related to the project.
3. Complete work associated with contract, including deliverables
In addition to the scope proposed by applicants, all partners are required to complete several regular deliverables as outlined in the RFR – reporting, performance indicators, coordination and check in meetings, cohort meetings, and other reporting and deliverable requirements.
Sign up for Newsletter
Click here to sign up for the Farmland Action Plan newsletter, which will include some additional emails related to this grant opportunity.