Farm Credit Awards $100,000 to Develop and Promote Northeast Agriculture

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided more than $100,000 in grant funding to 22 organizations to assist their efforts to encourage youth leadership development, support young and beginning farmer initiatives, promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and advance northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by August 1.

Many of the projects receiving these most recent grants are related to promoting youth leadership and educational programs, including the 4-H Boston Bound Program, Cornell University Dairy Fellows, The New England Junior Holstien Association, the Northeast Youth Sheep Show, the Regional Environmental Council, Connecticut FFA Association, The Food Project, and The Horticultural Society of New York’s HORTGreenhouse program.

Other programs receiving grants are supporting beginning farmers or individuals entering the commercial fishing industry, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and supporting veterans in agriculture. These programs include NOFA-VT, Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, the Intervale Center, Inc., Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Glynwood’s Pathways to Farming, and the Common Ground Adult Urban Farm.

Additionally, grants were awarded to a number of initiatives to support and promote Northeast agriculture, forestry and fishing, including projects involving leadership development and education, economic viability, food infrastructure and security, and sustainability initiatives. These projects include America’s Grow-a-Row, Black Farmers United New York State Green Futures program, the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation, CitySeed Commercial Kitchen and Food Business Incubator, Isles, Inc., Maine TREE Foundation, and the New York Animal Ag Coalition.

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program was created in 1996 to support projects that promote and enhance the region’s agricultural community. Since inception, the program has provided more than $3.3 million in grant funding to 1,133 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by August 1, 2024. Visit FarmCreditEast.com/AgEnhancement to learn more.

Farm Credit East is a member owned cooperative with 24 locations in its eight-state service area. In addition to loans and leases, the organization also offers a full range of specialized financial services, such as tax preparation, payroll, record keeping, appraisal and consulting for farming, forest products and commercial fishing businesses. Farm Credit East is governed by a 16-person board of directors, comprised of 13 customer-elected, one customer appointed and two outside appointed directors. For more information, visit FarmCreditEast.com.