- Applications will be accepted until March 23, 2024 11:59 pm CST
- Mailed applications must be post-marked by March 23 to be eligible.
- Questions about the grant must be submitted by March 15 at 4:00 pm CST.
- Randomized selection process will occur in April 2024
- Award notices will be sent May 2024
- Awardees must registered as a vendor within SWIFT and submit proof of purchase no later than August 2, 2024.
The lottery selection process will consist of 5 rounds of randomized selection. Selection rounds 1-4 will each focus on drawing applicants who qualify under one of the defined funding categories. Applicants may qualify under multiple funding categories and be entered in multiple selection rounds.
However, applicants are only eligible to receive one award maximum. Applicants who are not awarded in earlier rounds will progress to the next selection round(s) they are eligible for.
The 5th and final round will draw from all remaining eligible applicants.
The lottery selection process will consist of 5 rounds of randomized selection. Selection rounds 1-4 will each focus on drawing applicants who qualify under one of the defined funding categories. Applicants may qualify under multiple funding categories and be entered in multiple selection rounds.
However, applicants are only eligible to receive one award maximum. Applicants who are not awarded in earlier rounds will progress to the next selection round(s) they are eligible for.
The 5th and final round will draw from all remaining eligible applicants.
Selection rounds 1-4 will draw from the following funding categories:
- Farmers that have completed a FSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Training and/or a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training offered by the University of Minnesota Extension. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Farmers that were confirmed to be fully covered and subject to inspection under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule in 2023. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Farmers that are underserved. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Beginning farmers. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
Within each of the above categories and initial four drawing rounds, funding will be prioritized for farmers that have completed the Grower Questionnaire at least once between 2021-2024.
Selection rounds 1-4 will draw from the following funding categories:
- Farmers that have completed a FSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Training and/or a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training offered by the University of Minnesota Extension. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Farmers that were confirmed to be fully covered and subject to inspection under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule in 2023. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Farmers that are underserved. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
- Beginning farmers. Minimum amount awarded via this round: $6,400.
Within each of the above categories and initial four drawing rounds, funding will be prioritized for farmers that have completed the Grower Questionnaire at least once between 2021-2024.
The submittal date for mailed applications will be noted as the day the application was postmarked. This is provided the application received is complete and the applicant meets the minimum eligibility.
The submittal date for mailed applications will be noted as the day the application was postmarked. This is provided the application received is complete and the applicant meets the minimum eligibility.
An incomplete mini-grant application will be considered "ineligible" for consideration and sent a denial letter. The applicant will have a grace period to submit missing information and change their status to "eligible".
If the applicant does not submit the necessary information, and is deemed "ineligible", they will not be included in the randomized selection process.
An incomplete mini-grant application will be considered "ineligible" for consideration and sent a denial letter. The applicant will have a grace period to submit missing information and change their status to "eligible".
If the applicant does not submit the necessary information, and is deemed "ineligible", they will not be included in the randomized selection process.
If you are eligible in more than one funding category, your application will be included in the randomized selection for each round that your application qualifies for.
Example: An applicant's farm was confirmed to be fully covered and subject to routine inspection under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule in 2024. The applicant has also attended a Produce Safety Rule Grower Training.
This application would be entered in the selection round for farms that were confirmed to be fully covered in 2024. If not selected/awarded, they would then be entered into next selection round they are eligible for (the training round, in this case). If not selected/awarded, they would then be entered into the 4th and final round. This round consists of all remaining eligible applicants that haven't been awarded in a previous round.
Depending on what funding categories an application qualifies under, an application could be included in at minimum 1 round but maximum 4 rounds.
