Overview
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) provides business planning, technical assistance, and grants to commercial farms to improve farm viability and to preserve and support the stewardship of agricultural resources.
The program provides one on one business planning assistance and technical assistance in areas of need such as family succession, marketing, or financial tracking to help increase farm viability. Participants selected to participate in the program may be offered grant funds of up to $75,000 - $165,000 for identified farm improvement projects in return for signing an agricultural covenant on the farm property to keep it in agricultural use for a 10 or 15-year term. Eligible uses of funds include farm capital projects such as building or renovating barns, farmstands, wash pack facilities, farm equipment, or improving resources such as wells or fencing.
Details
Eligibility
Please note that eligibility requirements are subject to change from year to year – below is a summary of some of the main eligibility requirements to apply to FVEP and is not an exhaustive list. Please refer to the current Request for Response, during an open application period, for an up-to-date list of all requirements to confirm that you are eligible before filling out an application.
Eligible Applicants:
- Applicants must own or co-apply with the owner of at least five (5) acres of land that is currently in active agricultural use.
- Applicants must have managed that land as a commercial agricultural enterprise for at least the three previous years and meet a minimum gross income amount, as stated in the current RFR.
- Applicants must be willing to have a short-term agricultural covenant placed on their property that requires the land to continue in active agricultural use for a fixed number of years.
- Farms must be privately family-owned farms, not owned by non-profit organizations or municipalities. Any land under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) or encumbered by any other restriction is ineligible.
Contact Information
Laura Barley - 413-726-2008 - Laura.Barley@mass.gov
Melissa Adams - 413-726-2001 - Melissa.Adams@mass.gov