Market Opportunities
Specific Grants
FSA Livestock Forage Program
The Livestock Forage Disaster Program provides payments to assist livestock owners that have suffered grazing losses due to a qualifying drought during the normal country grazing period. Livestock owners and contract growers who have covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage are eligible.
Terms:
•Producers must be commercial ranchers.
•Producers have to provide inventory as of 1/1/2020 and have had the land and cattle 60 days prior to this date.
•If the producer hasn’t participated with the FSA, additional forms will need to be completed.
•If the producer is a sub-lessee of Department off Hawaiian Home Lands, they will need to have a Third Party Grazing/Planting Agreement.
•A producer will need a valid lease to show that he/she has control of the parcel.
•If a new producer will be applying, they will be charged a late acreage filing fee. Fee depends on the acreage and where the ranch is located.
•There is an initial charge of $46 plus $16 per hour (1 hour minimum).
To access a livestock inventory sheet, please click
here.
She can be reached here:
Debbie Jitchaku
Program Technician
PO Box 845
Hilo, HI 96721
Phone: (808) 933-8340
Fax: 1-855-356-9492
Email: debbie.jitchaku@usda.gov
More information will come out soon, so please sign up for updates
here.
The Red Backpack Fund
The Red Backpack Fund will make 1,000 grants of $5,000 to female entrepreneurs to help alleviate the immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by COVID-19.
For more information, click
here.
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program
Up to $500,000 grants will be awarded to any U.S. organization, government or private, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops.
The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops.
The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN)
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) connects farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture-related occupation individuals to stress assistance programs.
Note:
Collaborative state, localm or regionally-based networks, or partnerships of qualified public and/or private entities can apply.
Brent Elrod
National Program Leader
Division of Family & Consumer Services
Richard.elrod@usda.gov
(816) 926-2535
NOAA Assistance
NOAA Assistance is available for commercial, charter, and subsistence fisheries, aquaculture, processors, fishery-related businesses. Business must be able to show harm greater than 35% loss of revenue compared to last year’s 5-year average, while subsistence, cultural and ceremonial fisheries only need to show negative impacts.
As of May 7, $300M in fisheries assistance under the CARES act was allocated to states with coastal and marine fisheries. Hawaii was allocated a little over $4.3M.
State marine fisheries management agencies are working on how to distribute this funding. It is expected that this funding will be disbursed quickly than fishery disaster assistance funds because it does not require a declaration of a fishery disaster and can be awarded on a rolling basis.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) provides financial assistance to producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish due to disease, certain adverse weather events,and loss conditions. It also provides assistance for livestock feed and grazing losses.
For more information, click
here.
Malama Kauai CSA Mini-Grants
Malama Kauai is distributing $500 rapid-release mini-grants to farmers who are launching or expanding CSAs with multiple pickup points or home delivery options.
Sustainable Agriculture Grants
SARE, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, offers grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices.
Farmers and ranchers, researchers, extension agents and other educators, and graduate students can apply.
To see previously funded SARE projects in Hawaii, click
here.
Jensen Uyeda
University of Hawaii at Manoa
910 California Avenue
Wahiawa, HI 96786
808-384-7110
juyeda@hawaii.edu
Sharon Wages Motomura
University of Hawaii - Manoa
875 Komohana Street
Hilo, HI 96720
808-969-8250
smotomura@hawaii.edu
New Market Grants
Emerging Markets Program
Up to $500,000 grants will be awarded to any U.S. private or government entity with a demonstrated role or interest in the export of U.S. agricultural commodities.
Federal State Marketing Improvement Plan
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) offers grants with a one-to-one dollar match to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.
Note:
•Only state agencies or universities can apply, but can partner with industry groups, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
•Proposals should benefit multiple agricultural producers and agribusinesses.
For more information, click
here.
Reimbursement Transportation Cost Program
The RTCP can partially reimburse costs for transporting agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce agricultural commodities.
Other Grants
Agricultural Management Assistance Program
The Agricultural Management Assistance Program provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control.
The Emergent Fund
The Emergent Fund supports strategies that help communities respond to rapidly changing conditions. They look to fund projects that support community development through long-term economic or social justice.
For more information, click
here.
For questions on how to register through the JustFund portal, email info@justfund.us.
For questions specific to the Emergent Fund, email info@emergentfund.net.
Omidyar Network COVID-19 Economic Response Advocacy Fund
The Omidyar Network COVID-19 economic Response Advocacy Fund offers 501c4 funding to national, state, and local advocacy and organizing efforts to address the immediate toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on working people while reshaping economic structures to ensure vulnerable populations are less vulnerable in the future.
There is no limit to funding requests, though funds must be used in the next 12-15 months. Applications are on a rolling basis.
They are looking to help fund ongoing projects that fix structural economic problems that make working people vulnerable. Examples of projects might be:
•Organizations conducting advocacy related directly to the needs of working people, small businesses, or other constituencies central to our reimagining capitalism program
•Advocacy work tied to an existing campaign, program, or organizational priority (i.e., not something that is just getting underway)
•Organizations that have the financial capacity to accepts and spend 501c4 dollars and are able to do their proposed advocacy work (i.e. financial stability)
•Advocacy work that seeks to restructure the economy, either through the organization’s long-term strategy or mission OR through the organization’s strategic communications workand
•Organizations coordinating with a coalition of other groups on a specific policy fight related to reshaping the economy
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs
There are two programs that applicants can receive funding from under the EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program:
1) The EDA’s Public Works program, which helps distressed communities build, design, or engineer critical infrastructure and facilities to promote economic development and regional prosperity. Examples of past Public Works projects have supported high-tech shipping and logistics facilities, workforce training facilities, business incubators and accelerators, and technology-based facilities.
2) The EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which accepts applications for projects in rural and urban areas that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. These projects are meant to provide resources to communities experiencing or anticipating economic dislocations to plan and implement specific solutions to leverage existing regional economic advantages to support economic development and job creation. Examples of this type of funding might include funding to a city to support the construction of an industrial facility to house early-stage businesses.
Notes:
•District organizations, state/county/city/other state political subdivisions, institutions of higher education, and public/private non-profit organizations in cooperation with state officials may apply. Individuals and for-profit entities may not apply.
•There is a cost sharing/matching requirement that varies on the region’s unemployment rate. To view this requirement, please click here.
•In order to apply, applicants must be in regions of distress, and must meet one of the following criteria:
•an unemployment rate of at least 1% greater than the national average (for the most recent 24-month period that there is data available)
•per capita income that is 80% or less of the national average
•special need (determined by the EDA)
Herbert Thweatt
hthweatt@eda.gov
(808) 541-3391
Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative- Education and Workforce Development
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program provides grants for research, extension, and integrated research as well as education and/or extension projects.
Food Access/Waste Grants
ReFED COVID-19 Waste Solutions Fund
The ReFED COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund provides $50,000 grants to quickly deliver vital funding to organizations that can rapidly scale food waste reduction and hunger relief efforts.
Application is very short and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
For questions, email:
COVID-19solutionsfund@ReFED.com
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project
The Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project provides up to $90,000 for cooperative agreement proposals that will:
1) generate compost
2) increase access to compost for agricultural producers
3) reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer
4) improve soil quality
5) encourage waste management and permaculture business development
6) increase rainwater absorption
7) reduce municipal food waste
8) divert food waste from landfills.
Note:
•Projects must be 2 years in duration.
•Requires 25% match of total project costs.
•Local governments can apply. However, local government are required to collaborate with multiple partners such as public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities, academic institutions, and other appropriate professionals, community-based organizations, and local government entities.
Priority will be given to an application for a CCFWR pilot project that:
1) Anticipates or demonstrates economic benefits
2) Incorporates plans to make compost easily accessible to agricultural producers, including community gardeners;
3) Integrates other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts
4) Collaborates with multiple partners.
To access FAQs, click
here.
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Targeted Small Grants Program
This fund provides $20,000-$200,000 grants to innovative food retail and food system enterprises that seek to improve access to fresh, healthy food in underserved areas.
National Farm to School Network COVID-19 Relief Fund
$5,000-$10,000 grants available to provide relief to schools, early care and education sites, farmers and producers, families, and/or others in the farm-to-school community impacted by COVID-19. Funds can be used to purchase and distribute local food, increase local food access, or provide gardening and local foods educational resources to open ECE sites/home learning environments.
Organic Grants
EQIP Organic Initiative
Producers must have a USDA National Organic Program Organic Certificate, proof of good standing from a USDA accredited certifying agent, and sell less than $5,000 a year in organic agricultural products or are looking to transition to organic.
For further questions, contact:
Chad Cherefko
Assistant Director for Programs
Natural Resources Conservation Services
Phone: (808) 600-2959
Email: Chad.Cherefko@usda.gov
Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund
The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund offers $1,000-$2,500 grant to organic producers suffering from extreme financial losses. Producers must have certified organic operations and evidence of documentation.
Grantees must submit a progress report six months after receiving a grant.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Organic producers and handlers can receive reimbursement for the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification.
These programs can cover up to 75% of certification costs, up to $750.
There are two organic certification cost share programs:
1) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP)
•Available to producers and handlers
2) Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program
•Available to certified organic crop and livestock operators
For more organic farming resources, click
here.
Certified Naturally Grown Grassroots Fund
The Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) Grassroots Fund offers peer-review certification to farmers and beekeepers producing food for their local communities by working in harmony with nature, without relying on synthetic chemicals or GMOs.
This fund waives the minimum $150 dues for CNG certification.
Priority is given to farmers who:
• are in their first three years of operation, or
• are facing unusual hardship like extreme weather, physical injury, recent job loss
• have a track record of meeting CNG requirements in a timely manner (for returning members)
• will benefit from certification
• are recommended by other CNG farmers
• are willing to promote CNG in their local community
To apply, click
here.
Agroforestry Grants
USDA National Agroforestry Center Grants
The USDA National Agroforestry Center Grants offers funding for two types of programs:
Planning Projects
The purpose of Planning Projects is to support the development of projects that will either initiate or build upon or expand the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs.
Implementation Projects
The purpose of Implementation Projects is to accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners.
A webinar on 6/3/2020 from 2-4 EDT will provide an overview of each grant's purpose, project types, eligibility, and basic requirements to submit an application. Register
here.
For further questions, contact:
Richard Straight or Kate MacFarland
richard.straight@usda.gov or katherine.macfarland@usda.gov
Technology Transfer Leader
US Forest Service
Conservation Grants
Conservation Innovation Grants
The purpose of Conservation Innovation Grants is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in agricultural production.
Funds can be used for field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of conservation related activities.
There is a webinar for interested applicants on May 13, 2020 at 3pm EDT. Access the webinar through this link
here.
To apply, click
here.
For further questions, contact:
Melanie Krizmanich
Grantor
Phone: (202) 572-5805
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against increasing weather volatility.
Emergency Conservation Program
The Emergency Conservation Program provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.
To learn about ECP sign-up periods, check with your local FSA office.
CFAP
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers with impacted prices and market supply chains. These funds can be used to support adjustment, additional marketing costs, and short-term oversupply.
Farms of all sizes and markets that suffered losses of at least 5% are eligible to apply, including crops, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops.
Even if you have applied/received assistance from EIDL and/or PPP, you ARE still eligible for CFAP!
Specialty crop producers new to the USDA direct payment process are especially encouraged to apply!
USDA evaluated commodity specific losses occurring during the January to April time frame for immediate assistance. In addition, near-term adjustment costs and supply disruptions over the next few months were also evaluated to the extent possible for sectors where prices have declined significantly for additional assistance.
Note: FSA programs are not first come, first serve.
There are two funding sources in CFAP:
1) CARES Act: Compensation for losses between mid-January to mid-April 2020, either from price declines or for spoiled specialty crops
2) Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act: Compensation for producers due to ongoing market disruptions
The CFAP application and payment combines CARES Act and CCC funds, though payments will be tracked by type of funding. This means that if you receive funding from each of these programs under CFAP, the USDA will track these funds separately.
Specialty Crops
•A list of eligible specialty crops can be found here.
•To be eligible, applicants must have a 5% or more reduction in sales price between the average for the week of 1/13-1/17 and the average for the week of 4/6-4/10.
•Total payment is based on the volume production sold between 1/15/2020-4/15/2020, the volume of production shipped but unpaid, and the number of acres of production that did not leave the farm/was destroyed/not harvested and could not be sold
•Payments will be based on sales volume during this timeframe multiplied by per-specified payment rate of 80% of the crops’ price change
•For crops that were shipped but spoiled, payments will be based on the volume of these crops times a pre-specified payment rate of 30% of the crops’ sales value
•For products that have not left the farm/mature crops that were unharvested between 1/15-4/15/2020 and will not be sold, payments will be based on the volume of these crops times a pre-specified payment rate of 5.875% of the crops’ value
Livestock
•Cattle, lambs, yearlings, hogs
•Payment is the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between 1/15/2020-4/15/2020 multiplied by the payment rates per head plus the highest inventory number of livestock between 4/16-5/14/2020 multiplied by the payment rates per head
Dairy
•Payment is based on a producer’s certification of milk production for the first calendar year 2020 multiplied by 80% of the national price decline during the same quarter plus a national adjustment of 1.014 to each producer’s production in the first quarter to account for increased production in the second quarter multiplied by 25% of the decline in prices as determined by the USDA during the first quarter of the 2020 calendar year
Non-Specialty Crops and Wool
•Malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, hard red spring wheat, wool
•Payments made on inventory held subject to price risk on 1/15/2020
•Payments are 50% of producer’s 2019 total production OR 2019 inventory as of 1/15/2020 (whichever is less) times the commodity’s applicable payment rates
Additional Notes:
•Adjusted gross income cannot be more than $900,000 unless 75% or more of income comes from farming, ranching, or forests-related activities.
•Producers must be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.
•The maximum payment is $250,000 per person/entity for all commodities combined.
•If you are a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, you may qualify for more payment if members actively provide at least 400 hours of active personal labor/management for the operation (if so, then the corporate entity can receive up to $500,000 or $750,000, respectively)
•Eggs/layers are not eligible for CFAP.
•If your crop is not on the eligible list but have still suffered a 5%+ price decline between 1/2020-4/2020 and have additional marketing costs because of COVID-19, you can submit comments to provide information about additional commodities. USDA particularly wants to obtain information about nursery products, cut flowers, and aquaculture products. These commodities are not currently eligible for CFAP at the moment, but will be made eligible later in a Notice of Funding Availability. 4% of the CFAP budget ($637M) is for additional commodities identified through this process.
Important Dates:
Applications close on 8/28/2020.
Producers will receive 80% of their maximum total payment upon application approval. The remaining 20% will be paid at a later date if funds remain available.
To view FAQs (as of 5/14/2020), click
here.
For detailed information and applicable payment rates for various commodities (page 33-35), click
here.
As part of applying for the program, you’ll need to contact your FSA county office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment.
Your local FSA staff will assist you with the application over the phone. To contact your county FSA representative, click
here.
More Notes:
•Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact through a phone call.
•The application will not require an acreage report, and your USDA farm number may not be needed immediately.
Farmers and Ranchers
Specific Grants
FSA Livestock Forage Program
The Livestock Forage Disaster Program provides payments to assist livestock owners that have suffered grazing losses due to a qualifying drought during the normal country grazing period. Livestock owners and contract growers who have covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage are eligible.
Terms:
•Producers must be commercial ranchers.
•Producers have to provide inventory as of 1/1/2020 and have had the land and cattle 60 days prior to this date.
•If the producer hasn’t participated with the FSA, additional forms will need to be completed.
•If the producer is a sub-lessee of Department off Hawaiian Home Lands, they will need to have a Third Party Grazing/Planting Agreement.
•A producer will need a valid lease to show that he/she has control of the parcel.
•If a new producer will be applying, they will be charged a late acreage filing fee. Fee depends on the acreage and where the ranch is located.
•There is an initial charge of $46 plus $16 per hour (1 hour minimum).
To access a livestock inventory sheet, please click
here.
She can be reached here:
Debbie Jitchaku
Program Technician
PO Box 845
Hilo, HI 96721
Phone: (808) 933-8340
Fax: 1-855-356-9492
Email: debbie.jitchaku@usda.gov
More information will come out soon, so please sign up for updates
here.
The Red Backpack Fund
The Red Backpack Fund will make 1,000 grants of $5,000 to female entrepreneurs to help alleviate the immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by COVID-19.
For more information, click
here.
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program
Up to $500,000 grants will be awarded to any U.S. organization, government or private, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops.
The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops.
The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN)
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) connects farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture-related occupation individuals to stress assistance programs.
Note:
Collaborative state, localm or regionally-based networks, or partnerships of qualified public and/or private entities can apply.
Brent Elrod
National Program Leader
Division of Family & Consumer Services
Richard.elrod@usda.gov
(816) 926-2535
NOAA Assistance
NOAA Assistance is available for commercial, charter, and subsistence fisheries, aquaculture, processors, fishery-related businesses. Business must be able to show harm greater than 35% loss of revenue compared to last year’s 5-year average, while subsistence, cultural and ceremonial fisheries only need to show negative impacts.
As of May 7, $300M in fisheries assistance under the CARES act was allocated to states with coastal and marine fisheries. Hawaii was allocated a little over $4.3M.
State marine fisheries management agencies are working on how to distribute this funding. It is expected that this funding will be disbursed quickly than fishery disaster assistance funds because it does not require a declaration of a fishery disaster and can be awarded on a rolling basis.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP)
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) provides financial assistance to producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish due to disease, certain adverse weather events,and loss conditions. It also provides assistance for livestock feed and grazing losses.
For more information, click
here.
Malama Kauai CSA Mini-Grants
Malama Kauai is distributing $500 rapid-release mini-grants to farmers who are launching or expanding CSAs with multiple pickup points or home delivery options.
Sustainable Agriculture Grants
SARE, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, offers grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices.
Farmers and ranchers, researchers, extension agents and other educators, and graduate students can apply.
To see previously funded SARE projects in Hawaii, click
here.
Jensen Uyeda
University of Hawaii at Manoa
910 California Avenue
Wahiawa, HI 96786
808-384-7110
juyeda@hawaii.edu
Sharon Wages Motomura
University of Hawaii - Manoa
875 Komohana Street
Hilo, HI 96720
808-969-8250
smotomura@hawaii.edu
New Market Grants
Emerging Markets Program
Up to $500,000 grants will be awarded to any U.S. private or government entity with a demonstrated role or interest in the export of U.S. agricultural commodities.
Federal State Marketing Improvement Plan
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) offers grants with a one-to-one dollar match to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.
Note:
•Only state agencies or universities can apply, but can partner with industry groups, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
•Proposals should benefit multiple agricultural producers and agribusinesses.
For more information, click
here.
Reimbursement Transportation Cost Program
The RTCP can partially reimburse costs for transporting agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce agricultural commodities.
Other Grants
Agricultural Management Assistance Program
The Agricultural Management Assistance Program provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control.
The Emergent Fund
The Emergent Fund supports strategies that help communities respond to rapidly changing conditions. They look to fund projects that support community development through long-term economic or social justice.
For more information, click
here.
For questions on how to register through the JustFund portal, email info@justfund.us.
For questions specific to the Emergent Fund, email info@emergentfund.net.
Omidyar Network COVID-19 Economic Response Advocacy Fund
The Omidyar Network COVID-19 economic Response Advocacy Fund offers 501c4 funding to national, state, and local advocacy and organizing efforts to address the immediate toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on working people while reshaping economic structures to ensure vulnerable populations are less vulnerable in the future.
There is no limit to funding requests, though funds must be used in the next 12-15 months. Applications are on a rolling basis.
They are looking to help fund ongoing projects that fix structural economic problems that make working people vulnerable. Examples of projects might be:
•Organizations conducting advocacy related directly to the needs of working people, small businesses, or other constituencies central to our reimagining capitalism program
•Advocacy work tied to an existing campaign, program, or organizational priority (i.e., not something that is just getting underway)
•Organizations that have the financial capacity to accepts and spend 501c4 dollars and are able to do their proposed advocacy work (i.e. financial stability)
•Advocacy work that seeks to restructure the economy, either through the organization’s long-term strategy or mission OR through the organization’s strategic communications workand
•Organizations coordinating with a coalition of other groups on a specific policy fight related to reshaping the economy
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs
There are two programs that applicants can receive funding from under the EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program:
1) The EDA’s Public Works program, which helps distressed communities build, design, or engineer critical infrastructure and facilities to promote economic development and regional prosperity. Examples of past Public Works projects have supported high-tech shipping and logistics facilities, workforce training facilities, business incubators and accelerators, and technology-based facilities.
2) The EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which accepts applications for projects in rural and urban areas that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. These projects are meant to provide resources to communities experiencing or anticipating economic dislocations to plan and implement specific solutions to leverage existing regional economic advantages to support economic development and job creation. Examples of this type of funding might include funding to a city to support the construction of an industrial facility to house early-stage businesses.
Notes:
•District organizations, state/county/city/other state political subdivisions, institutions of higher education, and public/private non-profit organizations in cooperation with state officials may apply. Individuals and for-profit entities may not apply.
•There is a cost sharing/matching requirement that varies on the region’s unemployment rate. To view this requirement, please click here.
•In order to apply, applicants must be in regions of distress, and must meet one of the following criteria:
•an unemployment rate of at least 1% greater than the national average (for the most recent 24-month period that there is data available)
•per capita income that is 80% or less of the national average
•special need (determined by the EDA)
Herbert Thweatt
hthweatt@eda.gov
(808) 541-3391
Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative- Education and Workforce Development
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program provides grants for research, extension, and integrated research as well as education and/or extension projects.
Food Access/Waste Grants
ReFED COVID-19 Waste Solutions Fund
The ReFED COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund provides $50,000 grants to quickly deliver vital funding to organizations that can rapidly scale food waste reduction and hunger relief efforts.
Application is very short and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
For questions, email:
COVID-19solutionsfund@ReFED.com
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project
The Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project provides up to $90,000 for cooperative agreement proposals that will:
1) generate compost
2) increase access to compost for agricultural producers
3) reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer
4) improve soil quality
5) encourage waste management and permaculture business development
6) increase rainwater absorption
7) reduce municipal food waste
8) divert food waste from landfills.
Note:
•Projects must be 2 years in duration.
•Requires 25% match of total project costs.
•Local governments can apply. However, local government are required to collaborate with multiple partners such as public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities, academic institutions, and other appropriate professionals, community-based organizations, and local government entities.
Priority will be given to an application for a CCFWR pilot project that:
1) Anticipates or demonstrates economic benefits
2) Incorporates plans to make compost easily accessible to agricultural producers, including community gardeners;
3) Integrates other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts
4) Collaborates with multiple partners.
To access FAQs, click
here.
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Targeted Small Grants Program
This fund provides $20,000-$200,000 grants to innovative food retail and food system enterprises that seek to improve access to fresh, healthy food in underserved areas.
National Farm to School Network COVID-19 Relief Fund
$5,000-$10,000 grants available to provide relief to schools, early care and education sites, farmers and producers, families, and/or others in the farm-to-school community impacted by COVID-19. Funds can be used to purchase and distribute local food, increase local food access, or provide gardening and local foods educational resources to open ECE sites/home learning environments.
Organic Grants
EQIP Organic Initiative
Producers must have a USDA National Organic Program Organic Certificate, proof of good standing from a USDA accredited certifying agent, and sell less than $5,000 a year in organic agricultural products or are looking to transition to organic.
For further questions, contact:
Chad Cherefko
Assistant Director for Programs
Natural Resources Conservation Services
Phone: (808) 600-2959
Email: Chad.Cherefko@usda.gov
Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund
The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund offers $1,000-$2,500 grant to organic producers suffering from extreme financial losses. Producers must have certified organic operations and evidence of documentation.
Grantees must submit a progress report six months after receiving a grant.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Organic producers and handlers can receive reimbursement for the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification.
These programs can cover up to 75% of certification costs, up to $750.
There are two organic certification cost share programs:
1) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP)
•Available to producers and handlers
2) Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program
•Available to certified organic crop and livestock operators
For more organic farming resources, click
here.
Certified Naturally Grown Grassroots Fund
The Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) Grassroots Fund offers peer-review certification to farmers and beekeepers producing food for their local communities by working in harmony with nature, without relying on synthetic chemicals or GMOs.
This fund waives the minimum $150 dues for CNG certification.
Priority is given to farmers who:
• are in their first three years of operation, or
• are facing unusual hardship like extreme weather, physical injury, recent job loss
• have a track record of meeting CNG requirements in a timely manner (for returning members)
• will benefit from certification
• are recommended by other CNG farmers
• are willing to promote CNG in their local community
To apply, click
here.
Agroforestry Grants
USDA National Agroforestry Center Grants
The USDA National Agroforestry Center Grants offers funding for two types of programs:
Planning Projects
The purpose of Planning Projects is to support the development of projects that will either initiate or build upon or expand the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs.
Implementation Projects
The purpose of Implementation Projects is to accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners.
A webinar on 6/3/2020 from 2-4 EDT will provide an overview of each grant's purpose, project types, eligibility, and basic requirements to submit an application. Register
here.
For further questions, contact:
Richard Straight or Kate MacFarland
richard.straight@usda.gov or katherine.macfarland@usda.gov
Technology Transfer Leader
US Forest Service
Conservation Grants
Conservation Innovation Grants
The purpose of Conservation Innovation Grants is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in agricultural production.
Funds can be used for field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of conservation related activities.
There is a webinar for interested applicants on May 13, 2020 at 3pm EDT. Access the webinar through this link
here.
To apply, click
here.
For further questions, contact:
Melanie Krizmanich
Grantor
Phone: (202) 572-5805
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against increasing weather volatility.
Emergency Conservation Program
The Emergency Conservation Program provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.
To learn about ECP sign-up periods, check with your local FSA office.
CFAP
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers with impacted prices and market supply chains. These funds can be used to support adjustment, additional marketing costs, and short-term oversupply.
Farms of all sizes and markets that suffered losses of at least 5% are eligible to apply, including crops, livestock, dairy, and specialty crops.
Even if you have applied/received assistance from EIDL and/or PPP, you ARE still eligible for CFAP!
Specialty crop producers new to the USDA direct payment process are especially encouraged to apply!
USDA evaluated commodity specific losses occurring during the January to April time frame for immediate assistance. In addition, near-term adjustment costs and supply disruptions over the next few months were also evaluated to the extent possible for sectors where prices have declined significantly for additional assistance.
Note: FSA programs are not first come, first serve.
There are two funding sources in CFAP:
1) CARES Act: Compensation for losses between mid-January to mid-April 2020, either from price declines or for spoiled specialty crops
2) Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act: Compensation for producers due to ongoing market disruptions
The CFAP application and payment combines CARES Act and CCC funds, though payments will be tracked by type of funding. This means that if you receive funding from each of these programs under CFAP, the USDA will track these funds separately.
Specialty Crops
•A list of eligible specialty crops can be found here.
•To be eligible, applicants must have a 5% or more reduction in sales price between the average for the week of 1/13-1/17 and the average for the week of 4/6-4/10.
•Total payment is based on the volume production sold between 1/15/2020-4/15/2020, the volume of production shipped but unpaid, and the number of acres of production that did not leave the farm/was destroyed/not harvested and could not be sold
•Payments will be based on sales volume during this timeframe multiplied by per-specified payment rate of 80% of the crops’ price change
•For crops that were shipped but spoiled, payments will be based on the volume of these crops times a pre-specified payment rate of 30% of the crops’ sales value
•For products that have not left the farm/mature crops that were unharvested between 1/15-4/15/2020 and will not be sold, payments will be based on the volume of these crops times a pre-specified payment rate of 5.875% of the crops’ value
Livestock
•Cattle, lambs, yearlings, hogs
•Payment is the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between 1/15/2020-4/15/2020 multiplied by the payment rates per head plus the highest inventory number of livestock between 4/16-5/14/2020 multiplied by the payment rates per head
Dairy
•Payment is based on a producer’s certification of milk production for the first calendar year 2020 multiplied by 80% of the national price decline during the same quarter plus a national adjustment of 1.014 to each producer’s production in the first quarter to account for increased production in the second quarter multiplied by 25% of the decline in prices as determined by the USDA during the first quarter of the 2020 calendar year
Non-Specialty Crops and Wool
•Malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, hard red spring wheat, wool
•Payments made on inventory held subject to price risk on 1/15/2020
•Payments are 50% of producer’s 2019 total production OR 2019 inventory as of 1/15/2020 (whichever is less) times the commodity’s applicable payment rates
Additional Notes:
•Adjusted gross income cannot be more than $900,000 unless 75% or more of income comes from farming, ranching, or forests-related activities.
•Producers must be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.
•The maximum payment is $250,000 per person/entity for all commodities combined.
•If you are a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, you may qualify for more payment if members actively provide at least 400 hours of active personal labor/management for the operation (if so, then the corporate entity can receive up to $500,000 or $750,000, respectively)
•Eggs/layers are not eligible for CFAP.
•If your crop is not on the eligible list but have still suffered a 5%+ price decline between 1/2020-4/2020 and have additional marketing costs because of COVID-19, you can submit comments to provide information about additional commodities. USDA particularly wants to obtain information about nursery products, cut flowers, and aquaculture products. These commodities are not currently eligible for CFAP at the moment, but will be made eligible later in a Notice of Funding Availability. 4% of the CFAP budget ($637M) is for additional commodities identified through this process.
Important Dates:
Applications close on 8/28/2020.
Producers will receive 80% of their maximum total payment upon application approval. The remaining 20% will be paid at a later date if funds remain available.
To view FAQs (as of 5/14/2020), click
here.
For detailed information and applicable payment rates for various commodities (page 33-35), click
here.
As part of applying for the program, you’ll need to contact your FSA county office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment.
Your local FSA staff will assist you with the application over the phone. To contact your county FSA representative, click
here.
More Notes:
•Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact through a phone call.
•The application will not require an acreage report, and your USDA farm number may not be needed immediately.
Farmers and Ranchers
Loans
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Emergency Advance
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Emergency Advance provides working capital loans of up to $2M for small businesses to overcome temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
Helpful Resources:
•For a list of documents needed to apply, click
here
•For more information about EIDL and PPP, click
here
•For step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the application, click
here
•To compare the EIDL, PPP, and other federal programs, click
here or
here
•To compare the compare the EIDL and the SBA 7(a) loan, click
here
Updates:
EIDL reopened for agricultural businesses on May 4.
•The application may take up to 2 hours.
•To check the status of a disaster loan application/advance, call SBA’s customer service center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Deadline:
TBD
SBA Express Bridge Loans
SBA Express Bridge Loans are for small businesses who already have a relationship with an SBA Express Lender to meet urgent cash needs while waiting for EIDL disbursement. Businesses can access up to $25,000 with less paperwork and a loan term of up to 7 years.
Businesses must have:
•Less than 500 employees
•Been in operation as of 3/13/2020
•Adverseley iimpacted by coronavirus
•Have a pre-existing relationship with a lender that offers EIDL loans as of 3/13/2020
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helps businesses with fewer than 500 employees keep workers on payroll. Sole proprietorships, independent contractors, self-employed persons, and private non-profits may also apply.
SBA will fully forgive loans IF all employees kept on payroll for 8 weeks and at least 60% of it is used on payroll. The rest can be used for rent, mortgage interest, and utilities.
Helpful Resources:
•For definitions of payroll costs and other technical language, click
here
•As of 5/5, PPP approvals for new funding requests looked very promising!
•Applicants must certify in good faith that the current economic uncertainty makes their PPP loan request necessary to support their ongoing operations in the PPP application form, and should be prepared to demonstrate to the SBA the basis of its certification upon request.
•Forgiven PPP debt is excluded from gross income and therefore not subject to federal income tax.
Q: If I laid off an employee, offered to rehire them, but they declined the offer, will I still be able to gain loan forgiveness under the PPP?
A: Yes, but you must have a good faith, written offer of rehire, and documented employee rejection of the offer; also note that employees who reject these offers may forfeit eligibility for continued unemployment compensation.
How to apply:
Businesses can apply for the PPP through any existing SBA 7(a) lender OR any federally insured depository institution or credit union OR farm credit system. Call your local bank and ask if they are participating! To see a list of participating lenders, click
here.
Deadline:
June 30, 2020
Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Loands
Small businesses can receive loans up to $25,000 from both the HDOA and the HDBEDT.
For more information, click here or here.
CBEDT Program
Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program
The Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program is offered by the Federal Reserve to help banks give money more freely to businesses in need maintain payroll and retain workers through this pandemi cby purchasing a large portion of loans from banks.
For additional eligibility requirements and more information, see
here.
To apply, contact your local lender.
Other SBA Loans
SBA offers numerous other loans. See below for summaries of each:
•7(a) Program
-up to $5M through lending partners for small businesses
-money for working capital, expansion/renovation, new construction, etc.
•Express Loan program
-up to $350,000 for up to 7 years with an option to resolve
-36 hour approval/denial turnaround time
•Community Advantage Loan Pilot Program
-mission-based lenders can assist small businesses in underserved markets through loans up to $250,000
•504 Loan Program
-for economic development and job creation/retention
-can only use funds for acquiring or refinancing fixed assets
•Microloans
-up to $50,000 (average size is $14,000) loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets
-money can be used for working capital, supplies, machinery and equipment, fixtures
For more information on each of these programs, click
here. For an overview of SBA financing options, see page 32 of this
document.
Opportunity Fund
The Opportunity Fund is a US-based nonprofit organization that provides financing and microloans from $2,600 to $250,000 to underserved small-business owners.
Export Assistance Loan Programs
The SBA offers export assistance for small businesses that export overseas either directly or indirectly by selling to an intermediary. See below for summaries of their export assistance programs:
•Export express loan program
Provides up to $500,000 for quick access to capital. Businesses can apply for line of credit/term note before finalizing export sales.
•Export working capital program
Provides revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to $5M so businesses can offer attractive payment terms to customers, fulfill export orders, and finance international sales.
•International trade loan program
To help small businesses engage in International trade, expand trade locations, or re-shore operations back to the US.
B&I Loan Guarantee Program
The B&I Loan Guarantee Program provides working capital to prevent, prepare, or respond to the effects the coronavirus. They may be used to support rural businesses, including agricultural producers, that were in operation on 2/15/2020.
SBA International Trade Loan
SBA offers up to $5M loans to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets and make investments to compete with import competition.
Terms:
•Maturities on the working capital portion of the loan are up to10 years.
•Maturities on equipment are up to 10 years, unless the useful life exceed 10 years.
•Maturities on any real estate portions of the loan are up to 25 years.
•Interest rates are between 2.25-2.75% above the prime rate.
•Applicants must meet the same eligibility requirements as SBA’s standard 7(a) Loan Program.
For more information, click
here.
Stimulus 2020 $1,000 Loans
Stimulus 2020 offers businesses $1,000 to use for any purpose. These funds can be used for any purpose, and doesn’t have any interest or fees. The money can be repaid in $100 increments per week or 10% of weekly sales if total sales is less than $1000. Any business with a verifiable business bank account is eligible.
Mãlama Business Loans
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs offers $2,500-$100,000 loans with a 4% APR and up to a 7-year term. Loans can be used for working capital or to establish or build upon a small business.
For more information and to access required documents, click
here.
Hua Kanu Business Loan
The Hua Kanu Business Loan Program provides $200,000-$1,000,000 loans to Native Hawaiian-owned businesses. The loan has a 7-year term at 4% APR. The loan may be used for working capital or to purchase equipment or inventory.
Emergency Resilience Loan Program
Financial counseling and loans up to $2,500 for individual workers and $5,000 for self-employed persons will be provided to asset limited, income constrained, employed residents who reside on Hawaii Island and have lost income due to COVID-19.
Grants
Honolulu Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund and Small Farm Relief Fund
Honolulu Small Business Relief Fund
Eligibility requirements include:
•Operating in the City and County of Honolulu
•30 or fewer employees
•Annual revenues of less than $1 million
•Other eligibility requirements may apply
Applications will be evaluated by a group of 4 credit unions, who will disburse the grants to approved businesses. Credit union membership is not required. The partner Credit Unions are:
•Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union
•Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
•Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union
•Honolulu Federal Credit Union
Poise Bounce Back Grants for Women
Poise is awarding 20 $15,000 grants to women-owned businesses to bounce back from COVID-19. Preference is given to businesses that challenge societal norms/stigmas or have a strong connection to moms/motherhood, demonstrate a passion for female empowerment, have a demonstrated need due to COVID-19, and display energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and passion for the business.
CLIF Bar Family Foundation Small Grants
The CLIF Bar Family Foundation provides small grants to 501(c)3 organizations that support one or more of the following objectives:
Immigrants Rising Grants
Immigrants Rising’s Entrepreneurship Fund provides up to $2,000 grants to undocumented entrepreneurs working to create positive social change.
Hello Alice Business for All Grants
A total of $250,000 in grants will be awarded to eighteen entrepreneurs. Awards will be granted based on demonstrated need and proposed use of funds.
Hawaii County Innovation/COVID-19 Economic Recovery Grants
The County of Hawaii is requesting grant proposals for the 2020-2021 fiscal year for projects that aim to support economic recovery and innovation from COVID-19 in the economic development, tourism, agriculture, creative economy, energy, and sustainable development sectors.
June 22, 2020
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
GoFundMe will give $500 to businesses that raise at least $500 on their platform. This fund will continue until funds are depleted.The relief fund has been in operation since March so it is important to launch a crowdfunding campaign as soon as possible if you would like to participate.
Rural Business Development Grant
The Rural Business Development Grant provides technical assistance and training for small rural businesses with fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1M in gross revenue.
Kīlauea Eruption Recovery Grants
Community nonprofit organizations can receive up to $500,000 grants towards disaster relief, recovery, mitigation, and remediation assistance for physical damages or losses from the Kilauea eruption.
Small Businesses
Loans
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Emergency Advance
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Emergency Advance provides working capital loans of up to $2M for small businesses to overcome temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
Helpful Resources:
•For a list of documents needed to apply, click
here
•For more information about EIDL and PPP, click
here
•For step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the application, click
here
•To compare the EIDL, PPP, and other federal programs, click
here or
here
•To compare the compare the EIDL and the SBA 7(a) loan, click
here
Updates:
EIDL reopened for agricultural businesses on May 4.
•The application may take up to 2 hours.
•To check the status of a disaster loan application/advance, call SBA’s customer service center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Deadline:
TBD
SBA Express Bridge Loans
SBA Express Bridge Loans are for small businesses who already have a relationship with an SBA Express Lender to meet urgent cash needs while waiting for EIDL disbursement. Businesses can access up to $25,000 with less paperwork and a loan term of up to 7 years.
Businesses must have:
•Less than 500 employees
•Been in operation as of 3/13/2020
•Adverseley iimpacted by coronavirus
•Have a pre-existing relationship with a lender that offers EIDL loans as of 3/13/2020
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helps businesses with fewer than 500 employees keep workers on payroll. Sole proprietorships, independent contractors, self-employed persons, and private non-profits may also apply.
SBA will fully forgive loans IF all employees kept on payroll for 8 weeks and at least 60% of it is used on payroll. The rest can be used for rent, mortgage interest, and utilities.
Helpful Resources:
•For definitions of payroll costs and other technical language, click
here
•As of 5/5, PPP approvals for new funding requests looked very promising!
•Applicants must certify in good faith that the current economic uncertainty makes their PPP loan request necessary to support their ongoing operations in the PPP application form, and should be prepared to demonstrate to the SBA the basis of its certification upon request.
•Forgiven PPP debt is excluded from gross income and therefore not subject to federal income tax.
Q: If I laid off an employee, offered to rehire them, but they declined the offer, will I still be able to gain loan forgiveness under the PPP?
A: Yes, but you must have a good faith, written offer of rehire, and documented employee rejection of the offer; also note that employees who reject these offers may forfeit eligibility for continued unemployment compensation.
How to apply:
Businesses can apply for the PPP through any existing SBA 7(a) lender OR any federally insured depository institution or credit union OR farm credit system. Call your local bank and ask if they are participating! To see a list of participating lenders, click
here.
Deadline:
June 30, 2020
Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Loands
Small businesses can receive loans up to $25,000 from both the HDOA and the HDBEDT.
For more information, click here or here.
CBEDT Program
Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program
The Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program is offered by the Federal Reserve to help banks give money more freely to businesses in need maintain payroll and retain workers through this pandemi cby purchasing a large portion of loans from banks.
For additional eligibility requirements and more information, see
here.
To apply, contact your local lender.
Other SBA Loans
SBA offers numerous other loans. See below for summaries of each:
•7(a) Program
-up to $5M through lending partners for small businesses
-money for working capital, expansion/renovation, new construction, etc.
•Express Loan program
-up to $350,000 for up to 7 years with an option to resolve
-36 hour approval/denial turnaround time
•Community Advantage Loan Pilot Program
-mission-based lenders can assist small businesses in underserved markets through loans up to $250,000
•504 Loan Program
-for economic development and job creation/retention
-can only use funds for acquiring or refinancing fixed assets
•Microloans
-up to $50,000 (average size is $14,000) loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets
-money can be used for working capital, supplies, machinery and equipment, fixtures
For more information on each of these programs, click
here. For an overview of SBA financing options, see page 32 of this
document.
Opportunity Fund
The Opportunity Fund is a US-based nonprofit organization that provides financing and microloans from $2,600 to $250,000 to underserved small-business owners.
Export Assistance Loan Programs
The SBA offers export assistance for small businesses that export overseas either directly or indirectly by selling to an intermediary. See below for summaries of their export assistance programs:
•Export express loan program
Provides up to $500,000 for quick access to capital. Businesses can apply for line of credit/term note before finalizing export sales.
•Export working capital program
Provides revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to $5M so businesses can offer attractive payment terms to customers, fulfill export orders, and finance international sales.
•International trade loan program
To help small businesses engage in International trade, expand trade locations, or re-shore operations back to the US.
B&I Loan Guarantee Program
The B&I Loan Guarantee Program provides working capital to prevent, prepare, or respond to the effects the coronavirus. They may be used to support rural businesses, including agricultural producers, that were in operation on 2/15/2020.
SBA International Trade Loan
SBA offers up to $5M loans to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets and make investments to compete with import competition.
Terms:
•Maturities on the working capital portion of the loan are up to10 years.
•Maturities on equipment are up to 10 years, unless the useful life exceed 10 years.
•Maturities on any real estate portions of the loan are up to 25 years.
•Interest rates are between 2.25-2.75% above the prime rate.
•Applicants must meet the same eligibility requirements as SBA’s standard 7(a) Loan Program.
For more information, click
here.
Stimulus 2020 $1,000 Loans
Stimulus 2020 offers businesses $1,000 to use for any purpose. These funds can be used for any purpose, and doesn’t have any interest or fees. The money can be repaid in $100 increments per week or 10% of weekly sales if total sales is less than $1000. Any business with a verifiable business bank account is eligible.
Mãlama Business Loans
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs offers $2,500-$100,000 loans with a 4% APR and up to a 7-year term. Loans can be used for working capital or to establish or build upon a small business.
For more information and to access required documents, click
here.
Hua Kanu Business Loan
The Hua Kanu Business Loan Program provides $200,000-$1,000,000 loans to Native Hawaiian-owned businesses. The loan has a 7-year term at 4% APR. The loan may be used for working capital or to purchase equipment or inventory.
Emergency Resilience Loan Program
Financial counseling and loans up to $2,500 for individual workers and $5,000 for self-employed persons will be provided to asset limited, income constrained, employed residents who reside on Hawaii Island and have lost income due to COVID-19.
Grants
Honolulu Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund and Small Farm Relief Fund
Honolulu Small Business Relief Fund
Eligibility requirements include:
•Operating in the City and County of Honolulu
•30 or fewer employees
•Annual revenues of less than $1 million
•Other eligibility requirements may apply
Applications will be evaluated by a group of 4 credit unions, who will disburse the grants to approved businesses. Credit union membership is not required. The partner Credit Unions are:
•Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union
•Hawaii State Federal Credit Union
•Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union
•Honolulu Federal Credit Union
Poise Bounce Back Grants for Women
Poise is awarding 20 $15,000 grants to women-owned businesses to bounce back from COVID-19. Preference is given to businesses that challenge societal norms/stigmas or have a strong connection to moms/motherhood, demonstrate a passion for female empowerment, have a demonstrated need due to COVID-19, and display energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and passion for the business.
CLIF Bar Family Foundation Small Grants
The CLIF Bar Family Foundation provides small grants to 501(c)3 organizations that support one or more of the following objectives:
Immigrants Rising Grants
Immigrants Rising’s Entrepreneurship Fund provides up to $2,000 grants to undocumented entrepreneurs working to create positive social change.
Hello Alice Business for All Grants
A total of $250,000 in grants will be awarded to eighteen entrepreneurs. Awards will be granted based on demonstrated need and proposed use of funds.
Hawaii County Innovation/COVID-19 Economic Recovery Grants
The County of Hawaii is requesting grant proposals for the 2020-2021 fiscal year for projects that aim to support economic recovery and innovation from COVID-19 in the economic development, tourism, agriculture, creative economy, energy, and sustainable development sectors.
June 22, 2020
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
GoFundMe will give $500 to businesses that raise at least $500 on their platform. This fund will continue until funds are depleted.The relief fund has been in operation since March so it is important to launch a crowdfunding campaign as soon as possible if you would like to participate.
Rural Business Development Grant
The Rural Business Development Grant provides technical assistance and training for small rural businesses with fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1M in gross revenue.
Kīlauea Eruption Recovery Grants
Community nonprofit organizations can receive up to $500,000 grants towards disaster relief, recovery, mitigation, and remediation assistance for physical damages or losses from the Kilauea eruption.
Nonprofits
Grants
The Healy Foundation
The Healy Foundation offers grant up to $50,000 for nonprofits in Hawaii for projects that address protection of ecosystems, climate change mitigation, reduction of childhood poverty, or youth advocacy and education.
Note:
The board meets four times a year to award grants.
For further questions,
email sgeary@thehealyfoundation.org
FEMA Public Assistance Programs
FEMA Public Assistance Programs reimburse eligible applicants for costs associated with emergency protective measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note:
FEMA assistance will be provided at 75% federal cost share.
Hawaii Community Foundation Resilience Fund
Hawaii Community Foundation is offering grants for projects that address one or more phases of their four-phased approach to community resilience.
The four phases are:
(1) Risk reduction
(2) Rapid relief and response
(3) Recovery and stabilization
(4) Rebuilding resilience
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants Program
Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program aims to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.
Community-based non-profit corporations and public bodies may apply. Examples of agricultural-related projects are community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, and greenhouses.
Note:
Rural areas must have less than 20,000 residents.
Eligible bodies can an apply for low interest direct loans, grants, or a combination of both.
For specific information and funding priorities, click
here.
Brenda Iokepa-Moses
Hawaii State Director
USDA Rural Development
Phone: (808) 933-8305
Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Grant Program
This program provides up to $250,000 grants for non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector.
For more information, contact:
Brent Elrod
richard.elrod@usda.gov
(816) 926-2535
National Program Leader
Division of Family & Consumer Services
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program
The Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program provides funding for projects up to 3 years long that contribute to the effective creation, expansion, or maintenance of foreign markets. Applicants need to have a clear, long–term agricultural trade strategy, have the broadest producer representation and affiliated industry participation of the commodity being promoted, and include an effective program time line against which results can be measured at specific intervals using quantifiable product or country goals.
Applicants must be nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations that promote the exports of one or more U.S. agricultural commodities and must not have a business interest in or receive compensation from specific sales of agricultural commodities.
Momentum Fund
The Momentum Fund provides up to $100,000 grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that are managing active COVID-19 funds so these organizations can grow, promote, manage, and sustain their funds.
Mosaic COVID-19 Rapid Response Infrastructure
Mosaic offers rapid response grants up to $10,000 to nonprofit grassroots organizations whose aim is to protect the environment or pursue environmental justice. Funds can be used for tools and technology, training, and related resources.
Agricultural Water Efficiency Grants
Hawaii Community Foundation hopes to support projects that improve agricultural water use efficiency and provide measurable benefits to the state.
Community Development Block Grant (Hawaii County)
Grants and loans available to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations to prevent, prepare, and respond to COVID-19 impacts with emphasis on public health, housing, economic recovery, and the needs of low- and moderate-income persons.
Loans
Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
This program aims to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and rural businesses. These loans can be used for projects relating to drinking water, sewers, waste disposal, storm water disposal, etc.
Nonprofit organizations and state and local governmental entities can apply.
Hawaii and Western Pacific State Office
USDA Rural Development
Phone: (808) 933-8380
HCRC Emergency Loan Program (HELP)
HCRC Emergency Loan Program (HELP) provides short-term bridge loans and term loans between $15,000-$100,000 to non-profits and mission aligned small businesses that are otherwise unable to secure financing but have an immediate need for capital. Funds can be used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, utilities and other operating expenses to allow the organizations to stay open.
Note:
Organizations have to have annual revenue of at least $100,000
Priority is given to organizations that have applied for PPP or EIDL but have been declined or are waiting for a response.
Terms:
•6-month bridge loan that converts to a 42-month term loan for a total of 48 months
•3% fixed interest rate for the 6-month bridge loan period and 5% fixed interest rate for the 42-month loan period
•For profit businesses have to have all individuals with a 20% ownership interest in the organization provide a personal guarantee.
•Non-profits don’t have to provide a personal guarantee if their board of directors is comprised of a majority of independent voting directors.
•Need 2 years of historical financial statements or tax returns and cash flow protection (can be simple or complex)
Chelsea Schull
LISC-HCRC Hawaii Program Officer
help@hcrchawaii.com
Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Program
The Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Program allows guaranteed lenders to approve and make covered loans with 180-day loan payment deferrals until September 30, 2020, without agency approval as long as they notify USDA Rural Development in writing.
Terms:
Loan guarantees are provided to businesses in rural areas only (population less than 50,000 in project location).
Loan terms and loan guarantee percentages vary depending on what the money is used for.
Interest rates will be negotiated between the lender and borrower.
There is a 3% initial guarantee fee.
Note:
For-profit businesses, nonprofits, and cooperatives can apply.
This flexibility applies to:
•Business and Industry Loan Guarantees
•Rural Energy for America Program Loan Guarantees
•Community Facilities Loan Guarantees
•Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
For more specific loan terms, click
here.
Denise M. Salmeron
Hawaii & Western Pacific Business & Cooperative Programs Director
USDA Rural Development
Phone: (808) 933-8323
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
(808) 848-2074
*Hawaii Farm Bureau is connecting farmers with retailers, direct-to-consumer markets, online marketplace and delivery networks, and our own purchase and distribution programs, to help Hawaii producers stay in business and continue to feed our communities. For more information about our programs, please click here.
USDA Rural Development Hawaii and Western Pacific State Office
Kanaka Economic Development Alliance
Kelea Levy
*Able to assist Native Hawaiians with EIDL and PPP applications
Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
CTAHR Cooperative Extension Services
Savannah
Emilie
*Savannah is able to provide technical assistance to Kauai ranchers and livestock producers.
*Emilie is able to provide technical assistance to Kauai produce growers.
Small Business Administration Hawaii District Office
SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance
Shannon Mariano
Customer Service Representative
Public Information Office
*Shannon is the point of contact for COVID-19 outreach
Business Law Corps
(808) 539-3806 x 0
*Offers small business owners legal counseling at no-cost (for help on things like choice of entity, business crisis, for-profit corporations, LLCs, partnerships, etc.)
*Appointments every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month for 30 minutes over the phone between 11am-1pm
To schedule appointment, email or call
Accumulus
(808) 369-3121
*Honolulu bookkeeping and CFO firm offering free help with US SBA Loan applications
*When contacting, reference offer from Chamber of Commerce website
HDOA Agricultural Loan Division
Wayne Takamine
(808) 973-9458
Business Loan Officer
HDOA Loan Division
Website
(808) 973-9460 (Oahu, Kauai, Maui)
(808) 933-9975 (Hilo)
(808) 323-7591 (Kona)
The Kohala Center
Eric Bowman
Business Development and Services Integration Coordinator
Megan Blazak
Rural Economic Development Supervisor
(808) 313-0904
*Offers several financial capitalization services including grant and loan application assistance and help to cooperatives developing their seed capital through equity shares and attracting preferred stock investors
*To contact them for technical assistance, download their intake form here
*To read their business resources page, click here
Hawaii State and Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency
Patrick Lewis
County Executive Director
Pacific Basin FSA Service Center
(808) 600-2953 (office)
(808) 443-8777 (cell)
(808) 541-2600 x 2
Go Farm Hawaii
Erik Shimizu
AgBusiness Program
GoFarm Hawaii
Pomai Weigert
AgBusiness Program
GoFarm Hawaii
General
(808) 956-3530
*Offers services to new and existing agribusinesses to take their company to the next level
*Provides assistance in business management, financial management, marketing, and technical farming
*Interested participants need basic experience with tracking financial information and the ability to communicate over email/zoom/etc. so files can be transferred back and forth.
*For more information and to apply, click here
*Pomai is able to provide consulting services for farmers/ranchers to market their businesses on platforms such as social media.
Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii
(808) 947-2914
*The Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii is here for the agricultural community during this difficult time. If you need support please reach out and we will do our best to connect you with local resources that can help.
Hawaii Center for Food Safety
Lauryn Rego (808) 298-9489
*Hawaii Center for Food Safety is a Maui based organization with statewide membership nearing 11,000. •Can help with communications and organizing farmers and advocates around ag focused legislation.
Farm Commons COVID-19 Webinars
Up-to-date webinars specifically for farmers and ranchers to navigate business strategy, loan applications, and government updates during the coronavirus.
Farmers & Ranchers Unemployment Insurance Benefits Webinar
A webinar by the Farm Commons covering eligible unemployment insurance benefits for farmers and ranchers.
HANO Hawaii Webinars
Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Farming COVID-19 Webinars
Up-to-date webinars specifically for farmers and ranchers covering coronavirus-relevant topics.
Save Hawaii Jobs and Businesses Webinars
A weekly webinar series that provides clarification for PPP and other federal program funding,
Shop Small Hawaii
Provides business resources and tools to the community through free educational workshops, promotions, and special events for community partners.
Farm Answers COVID-19 Library
A library of documents and webinars for farmers to adapt their businesses during COVID-19.
Pro Service Hawaii Business Guide
Extensive business guides and webinars on how to run businesses during a crisis, including a specific webinar for agriculture/farming.
Online Livestock Marketing Webinar Series
This 4-part webinar series, presented by CTAHR, will focus on the direct-to-consumer marketing and sale of animal products using various online platforms and tools.
Livestock Pau Hana Talk Story
Livestock Pau Hana is an informal, bi-weekly discussion presented by CTAHR, the Livestock Extension Group, and Hawaii’s Cattlemen’s Council discussing the impacts of COVID-19 and other issues on Hawaii livestock operations.
To register, click here. After you register, you should receive a confirmation email explaining how to join the meeting. After registering, you can use the same link for all future webinars.
Cattlemen’s College Online Campus
The Cattlemen’s College Online Campus is a portal of on-line learning opportunities for those interested in beef product promotion, research, information and related activities financed by the beef checkoff and similar market development investments.
It contains conference sessions, workshops, presentations, and webinars.
The Kohala Center's Farm Bill Program Funding Webinar
This webinar provides a broad overview for some of the funding options available to farmers, ranchers, and other Hawaii agriculturalists, as well as some best practices for applying to any grant.
Maui Economic Development Board COVID-19 Business Assistance Webinar Series
The COVID-19 Business Assistance Series, sponsored by the County of Maui, aims to help small businesses navigate the resources available to them, with clear step-by-step instructions. The webinar on May 14 focused on Agriculture and COVID-19 Loan Relief Programs.
Setting Up an Online Store Webinar
The University of Kentucky has hosted a webinar that slowly walks farmers through the process of setting up an online Square store. This is especially helpful for those who aren’t tech-savvy!
Farmers Markets Physical Redesign for COVID-19 Mitigation
Presented by Farmers Market Coalition, this webinar focuses on the physical redesign of farmers market spaces and shares examples of how market operators have implemented new practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Hawaii Coffee Association Webinars
Hawaii Coffee Association is hosting a webinar on June 24th and 25th designed to provide insights into the current state of Hawaii’s and the global coffee industry, and to offer information to help them cope with the current conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Registration link coming soon.
Farmers' Q+A on Unemployment Insurance Webinar
This webinar answers farmers and ranchers' commonly asked unemployment insurance questions.
Online Sales Platforms for Farmers Webinar
This webinar, presented by Oregon Tilth, presents alternative ways that farmers and ranchers can markeet their products, including several direct-to-consumer online sales platforms suitable for producers.
Farmer's Market Best Practices
Cultivating Success Sustainable Small Farms Education Webinars
This webinar series presents best practices specific to COVID-19 for farm deliveries, CSAs, and farmers markets. There are also webinars on finance, mentorship and direct marketing created just for farmers.
More webinars coming soon!
More webinars coming soon!
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 Image by Aaron Burden |  Image by Markus Spiske |  Close Up of Corn Field |
 Lemons |  Organic Carrots |  Watermelons |
 Green Leaves |