The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline to May 28, 2024, for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer), the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) Request for Applications. Due to a planned Grants.gov outage for maintenance around the original deadline to apply for these programs, the deadline has been extended to accommodate applicants who might have otherwise experienced delays in submission.
On March 21, USDA announced up to $12 million in grant funding available through these programs to strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products and increase access to locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity.
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically through by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 28, 2024. A Request for Applications (RFAs) for each program is available on the program webpages listed below.
Grant applications submitted after the due date will not be considered unless the applicant provides documentation of an extenuating circumstance that prevented their timely submission of the grant application. More information is available in the AMS Late and Non-Responsive Application Policy (pdf).
AMS encourages applications for initiatives that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, low-income, and minority individuals, and underserved communities. For projects intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.
To learn more about grant funding opportunities to enhance and strengthen agricultural systems, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Grants and Opportunities webpage.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender