Deadline: 31-Jan-22
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) Water Quality Division is requesting proposals from businesses, organizations, or individuals to work with farms to support the improvement of water quality across the state of Vermont through education and outreach, technical assistance, organizational capacity development, and conservation practice surveys.
Priorities
The Agency is calling for proposals that address the following priority outcomes to improve water quality in Vermont:
- Regulatory Compliance and Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Reduction: Increasing education, technical assistance, and conservation practice implementation are crucial activities in helping Vermont farmers achieve compliance with the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) and Medium and Large Farm Operation Rules. The desired outcome of regulatory compliance is both the reduction of agricultural non-point source pollution and the improvement of soil health. In addition to providing other benefits to farmers and the general public, soil health is correlated to the improvement of water quality on farms.
- Economic and Environmental Viability on Vermont Farms: Farm viability and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive. Economically viable farms are in a better position to afford the implementation of conservation practices and make on-farm improvements, some of which can provide long-term financial benefits back to the farm. Through farm business planning, technical and financial assistance as well as research and implementation of opportunities to increase the economic viability of farms in Vermont, farmers can make investments to lessen their impact on the environment. This is increasingly important as farms adapt to the onfarm phosphorus reduction strategies needed to meet nutrient management requirements and overall water quality goals.
Activity Areas
The work to be performed with this grant funding is divided into the following activity areas with a priority for phosphorus reductions Statewide, activities addressing priorities identified in Tactical Basin Planning, and to meet the goals of Act 64, the Clean Water Act. The Grantee(s) may perform work in some or all Activity Areas. The scope of work Grantee(s) propose is not limited by the examples provided in each Activity Area.
- Organizational Capacity Development: Providing education and outreach, technical assistance, and services to the agricultural community requires knowledge, expertise, staff, materials, and organizational structure.
- Education and Outreach: Education and Outreach is a fundamental activity in distributing the most current and effective information related to water quality conservation practices, research and trials, regulatory requirements, grant opportunities, innovative practices and initiatives, and peer-to-peer experiences.
- Technical Assistance: Technical Assistance is a crucial service to move outreach and education into conservation practice adoption and implementation that results in improved water quality and soil health.
- Conservation Practice Surveys: Accounting for agricultural conservation practice implementation and tracking progress towards meeting water quality goals is an important component to understanding conservation efforts and water quality improvements across the State.
Funding Information
State funding available for the requested activities is $3,000,000. The State may sign multiple grant awards for up to 4-year grant periods.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are encouraged to submit a single proposal per organization except in situations where discrete and separate programs exist within one organization. Eligible applicants include:
- Farmers, farmers’ partners, agricultural engineering and/or consulting firms, agricultural organizations and trade associations
- Local government entities including municipal boards, commissions, or committees
- Public or private schools or other educational institutions
- Organizations with nonprofit status, or citizen groups such as watershed or lake associations working in coordination with such an organization, that apply on their behalf and will manage the grant funds
- State and Federal government agencies may collaborate with one of the above groups, but are not eligible to be the primary applicant under this grant program
- While matching funds are highly encouraged, they are not required for program eligibility
- Applicants must be in compliance with all state regulations (i.e. water quality, taxes, child support) and in good standing with the State of Vermont at the time of submitting an application and must remain so during the entire grant period
For more information, visit https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agricultural-clean-water-initiative-program
