Through its Farm to Market Program and Pure Catskills buy local campaign, the Watershed Agricultural Council sponsors farm-business improvement grants, educational scholarships and other opportunities that provide farmers a chance to learn, enhance and bolster their production and marketing efforts. Eligibility requirements vary depending on the grant sponsor and focus area.

Generally the Farm to Market Program sponsors:

• The Sustainable Agricultural Development Grant that provides funding up to $5,000 for projects that will improve a farm’s value-added business or expand its ability to offer existing products. In 2010, the Program awarded $50,000 to 15 farms for projects such as farmstand improvements, public farm tour expenses and development of sour recipes for distribution.
• The Education Scholarship Grant that funds up to $350 for workshops, field trips, certifications and licensing as it will improve a farm’s value-added business or expand its ability to offer existing products.
• Other grants for farm beautification signage, website development, and other marketing tools.

Subscribe to the Pure Catskills e-newsletter and WAC eNews to learn more about additional grants available through the Council and other organizations year-round. You can also follow our two blogs, Pure Catskills and You & Your Watershed for current grant postings.