Overview
The Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) program assists beginning farmers who are between 1 and 5 years in business by providing technical and business planning assistance and grant funds for farm improvement strategies. Funding provided from this Program is available on a one to one matching cost reimbursement basis with the maximum award $10,000. It is the objective of MEGA to assist farmers whose goal is to raise agricultural products and who aspire to develop their farms into commercially viable operations. Funds are typically used for equipment, infrastructure or other capital improvements to implement strategies recommended through the planning process.
Eligible Applicants
- Massachusetts farm owners/operators that have been in business for at least one (1), but not more than five (5) years;
- Applicant must have secure access (own or lease) to the land being farmed;
- Applicant must have the ability to pay for project costs up-front and provide matching funds.
- Non-profit organizations and farms are ineligible to for program funding but a for-profit commercial farm leasing land from a non-profit owner may apply.
Details
Application Open Period: February 2018
Application Deadline: April 10, 2018
Maximum Funding Per Applicant: $10,000 with a 1 to 1 match