ULSTER COUNTY FARM
VIABILITY  SUSTAINABILITY GRANT

The Ulster County Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program

​

The Ulster County Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program, administered by the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) provides grants to small and mid-sized farms in Ulster County to increase Farm Viability and Energy Efficiency or Climate Resiliency. For the purposes of this Program, Farm Viability is defined as increased profitability, production, and/or marketing capacity; Energy Efficiency is defined as a reduction in energy usage and/or an increase in renewable energy usage; and Climate Resiliency is defined as any action that enhances or protects the farm business from weather-related impacts.

For the purposes of this grant, a Small Farm is defined as a farm business whose net annual income is less than $350,000, and a Mid-Size Farm is defined as a farm business whose net annual income is less than $1,000,000.

Funds provided by this grant to farms in Ulster County are intended be used for services, equipment, production costs, and other expenses to build both economic and environmental sustainability within Ulster County’s farm sector in the face of real-time effects of climate change, increased production costs, and challenging market systems.

Grants are available to applicants throughout Ulster County, NY. 


Application period opens: March 19, 2025


Application deadline: April 30, 2025 5:00 p.m. ET

No late submissions will be accepted.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 


This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number 21.027 awarded to the County of Ulster by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Program Priorities

Funding is available for projects related to the following program priorities:

• Increased Farm Viability

• Market Development

• Enhanced Production

• Improved Profitability/Cost-Savings

• Energy Efficiency Related to On-Farm or Farm-Business Operations

• Facility upgrades in farm operations

• Climate Resiliency in farm operations and practices (e.g. improvements to soil health, erosion prevention, water saving/reuse)

• Project increases farm’s product diversity, health, and self-reliance with the ability to adapt when confronted with changing market conditions, uncertain environmental conditions, and/or supply chain interruptions:

Projects MUST demonstrate Increased Farm Viability and either Energy Efficiency or Climate Resiliency.

An effective application will reflect the County’s priorities in this Program and show the following:

• The reason that the farm’s existing equipment and systems do not meet their current needs, and how this grant project is both timely and necessary for the business to succeed.

• The project is part of a proactive plan for future operation and continued business viability, with measurable results.

• The project will have significant positive impacts on applicant’s business including but not limited to energy savings or climate resiliency

Applicant demonstrates an awareness and readiness to implement the activities described, through quotes, plans, letters of support etc.


Estimated Funding Timeline

RFP opens: March 19, 2025
Applications close: April 30, 2025 5:00 p.m. ET
Application website: https://ffgf.smapply.us/res/p/Home-Page
Got questions? Join us for Virtual Open Office Hours: April 2, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Anticipated awards: late summer, 2025
Projects completed: by June 1, 2026.

No late submissions will be accepted. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 


 

Grant Amount

A total of $586,256 will be awarded to Ulster County farms through this grant program.

• Maximum award is $75,000. Applicants may not request more than this per project.

• Minimum award is $25,000. Applicants must request at least this much per project.

There will be no Match Requirement.

 

Eligibility

Applicants eligible for these funds are existing farm businesses and projects that:

1. Are located in Ulster County, NY; and

2. Whose annual net income is less than $1,000,000

Eligible applicants include:

• “Farm Operation,” as defined in section 301 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.

• Not-For-Profits engaged in Farming Activities.

• Eligible applicants must have filed a Schedule F in 2023 and received an Ag Assessment.

Business entities may only submit one application.
 

What is Eligible?

Examples of eligible equipment and expenses include but are not limited to:
 

• Electric/Biodiesel Truck/Tractor

• Precise Irrigation Systems

• Upgrade to energy efficient equipment and/or system

• Cold Storage

• Farm Equipment

• Wash/Pack

• Solar Panels

• Equipment installation services (e.g., plumbing needed for equipment or hooking up electrical for the equipment purchased)

• Supplies (any purchases that cost less than $5,000 per unit) serving as critical components to the overall project / system

• Other: shipping costs, rental of general use equipment (not for construction)


• Any construction, renovation, preparation, and/or rehabilitation required for the installation or replacement of equipment

Eligible project costs over $5,000 relating to building construction, building renovation, and/or equipment must be supported by a current quote or estimate.
 

Ineligible Activities

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

​

• Projects not located within Ulster County, NY

• Personnel and fringe expenses

• Acquiring real property including land purchases and any interest therein

• Construction that is unrelated to the installation of new equipment

• Supplies that are not critical components to the overall project / system

• Travel expenses, including that pertaining to equipment acquisition

• Training expenses, including for the use of new equipment or otherwise

• Advertising Costs

• Conference Fees

• Expenses paid by the applicant before the start of the grant period

• Grant writing or grant administration

Interested in Applying? Take these steps:

1. Read the full RFP for full program details, and to learn about the application process and what you will be required to submit with your application.
    

2. Gather documentation listed in the RFP to be submitted with your application including costs, letters of support, any site plans, and any quotes or estimates as needed.
    

3. While the following are not required to apply, be prepared. Applicants awarded will need to also provide:  Certificate of Insurance listing the HVADC as an additional insured, current IRS Form W-9, and Certificate of Status / Standing from NYS Department of State.

 

How to Apply

• Visit https://ffgf.smapply.us/res/p/Home-Page

• No paper applications will be accepted.

• If you do not already have an account, set up an account by using the Register button in the top right-hand corner of the page.

• Select the Ulster County Grant program and proceed to begin your application.

• You are not required to complete the application process in a single sitting. The form enables you to save your progress and resume at a later time or date from where you left off. It's important to note that none of your saved responses are final until you officially submit your application, allowing you to make changes or edits as needed.

 

Resources

Got questions? Join us for Virtual Open Office Hours: April 2, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
How to Guide for Applying

Step-by-Step Video: How to Complete the Application
Frequently Asked Questions

Participate Ulster
Learn more about Ulster County’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

For questions, please email us at ucfarmviability@hvadc.org

Support is generally available during business hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET.  Assistance may not be available shortly before deadlines.