Fund Your Farm Planning with Pennsylvania's Farm Vitality Grant Program

The Pennsylvania Farm Vitality Grant Program is funded through state funds under the PA Farm Bill and administered by the Agricultural Business Development Center. The program aims to encourage farmers to plan and prepare for whatever may be next for their farm operation: registering a new farm business; business, financial, or marketing planning; an expansion; a new enterprise; preparing for an emergency; or preparing for the next generation of farm ownership, retirement, or transition.

Some examples of projects that could be funded include:

• A crop farm working with professionals to develop a plan to bring the next generation into the farm business and writing a retirement plan for the older generation to work toward exiting the farm management.
• A beef farm planning to add homemade jerky to their product line developing a marketing strategy for their new product.
• A produce farm developing a business and financial record-keeping system that will help them more quickly and accurately make changes to their crop plans and market outlets.
• A beginning farmer retailing pork at a local farmers market developing a business model, financial projects, and marketing strategy for the new venture.
• A produce farm planning to add an on-farm kitchen to can, freeze, or process foods that can be used for value-added products to develop a budget, financial projections, marketing strategy, and loan repayment plan.
• A local food entrepreneur retailing pickles to wholesale markets developing a succession and retirement strategy selling to a non-family member.

Keep in mind that the grant is by reimbursement only, so you will need to fund the costs associated with the planning project up front, and the Department of Ag will reimburse you for expenses once an invoice with eligible expenses only has been submitted. Also note that capital purchases like land, supplies, and equipment are not allowable expenses—funds are for planning only.

The Farm Vitality Grant application is available online through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Single Application for Assistance. The Department has created a step-by-step guide (PDF) to help you through the process. Before you begin the application, though, you will need to have a Keystone Login account. A Keystone Login is free to create, but it is imperative that you write down and remember your login and password, as it will be used for communication and records if the grant is awarded.

Penn State Extension's Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development Team is ready to assist in the grant application and professional services encouraged by the Farm Vitality Grant Program. To learn more or schedule a consultation, email businessfinancemarketing@lists.psu.edu.