Administrator for the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Competitive Grant Program Round 2

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets seeks proposals from eligible entities, to administer a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Competitive Grant Program (Program).

A total of $2,000,000 is available for the Program, of which not more than 15% ($300,000) may be used by the Program Administrator for services and expenses directly related to the administration of the Program. A minimum of $1,700,000 (85%) must be made available for the award of grants to eligible socially and economically disadvantaged farmers.

For the purposes of this grant program, "socially disadvantaged" shall mean individuals who have been subject to discrimination by virtue of their membership of a particular group which may include, but not be limited to Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander; "economically disadvantaged" shall mean socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to enter into farming or whose farm enterprise has been impaired due to diminished capital, credit opportunities or access to land, among other things, as compared to other similarly situated individuals who are not socially disadvantaged.

Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis to such socially and economically disadvantaged farmers who will materially and substantially participate in operating a farm within a region of the state and may include urban farmers. Grants shall not be less than $5,000 and may not exceed $250,000 for any single beneficiary.
Grants may be awarded for purposes including, but not limited to:
• the start-up, improvement or expansion of a farm operation,
• worker or apprenticeship training,
• marketing activities,
• the purchase of agricultural land and physical structures thereon,
• the purchase of machinery, equipment or livestock, or
• the construction or improvement of physical structures, including semi-permanent structures.

Grants may be awarded for projects on land leased by the recipient.
Pursuant to the enacting legislation, the Department is authorized to enter into agreements with municipalities, public benefit corporations, local development corporations, or not-for-profit organizations that provide financial assistance, including capital assistance for the administration of the grant program. The purpose of this RFP is to select an entity to administer the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers Competitive Grant Program.