Climate Smart Agriculture Grant
QUESTIONS?
Do you have questions about the CT RC&D Climate Smart Farming Grant program and/or the grant application? Email Sarah Layton, Agricultural Programs Coordinator, at slayton@ctrcd.org or call 860-345-3977 ext. 102.
Apply
Thank you for your interest in CT RC&D's Climate Smart Agriculture Grant. The application period is now closed. The CSAG Review Committee will review applications in April with the plan to contact all applicants by the end of May. If you have any questions, you may contact Sarah at slayton@ctrcd.org.
Application Period: Friday, February 2, 2024 to end of day Friday, April 5, 2024
Grant applications must be submitted through the provided CT RC&D’s Climate Smart Agriculture Grant Application Form (a fillable form at link provided below). Applicants must download all provided templates in the Documents/Forms section, complete them in their entirety, and then upload through the application form once finalized and ready to submit. The deadline to submit a completed application is end of day Friday, April 5th, 2024.
Application Checklist:
A complete CT RC&D Climate Smart Agriculture Grant application includes completing the Grant Application Form, in addition to uploading a number of attachments. Download the application checklist here.
Review Factors:
The CT RC&D Climate Smart Agriculture Grant is a competitive grant program. Only complete applications, as outlined in the table above which are submitted by end of day Friday, April 5th, 2024, will be reviewed.
A committee will review applications based on the following criteria:
- Alignment with grant objectives: Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal aligns with the objective of the grant, which is to provide funding to farmers to implement, support, or expand climate smart agricultural practices related to on-farm energy and soil health to mitigate climate change impacts they have faced on-farm.
- Capacity to deliver on the project: Applicants must provide evidence of their capacity to successfully implement the project. This includes past project success, organizational capacity, and a clear, realistic plan for the proposed project to be installed/implemented within one year from award.
- Farm/business impact: Applicants must provide a clear plan for measuring the impact of their project. This includes goals and objectives, expected outcomes, and a clear plan for monitoring and evaluating the project’s success.
- Climate smart impact: The potential to improve agriculture via climate-smart practices in a measurable way, impact factors will include the consideration of factors such as the Return on Investment, carbon offset calculated in tons, energy savings, etc.
- Sustainability: The practice/project must have a clear plan for continuation beyond the grant period.
Innovativeness of the project/measure proposed for implementation. - Benefit to other farms or the broader community. Letters of support should be included.
Historically underserved farmers*: Priority points will be given to projects which support BIPOC producers, veterans, new and beginning farmers (farming for 1-3 years), anyone in a protected class, and anyone who speaks English as a second language.
*As defined by the CT Department of Agriculture for the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant funding.
Note: The CT Department of Agriculture must give final approval before awards are administered.