*Resources with an astrik indicate reccomendations by farmers in our region
Regional Grants
*WNC AgOptions
Helps build sustainable farming communities in the mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations.
*Mary Boyer Sustainable Food & Agriculture Grants
The purpose of the Mary Boyer Sustainable Agriculture and Food Grants are to strengthen our local food system by supporting female farmers, ranchers, and processors who plan to create innovative, sustainable solutions to producing or marketing obstacles in the High Country.
Direct to Farmer Grants
In 2015 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture administered Direct-to-Farmer grants for the first time. With funding from Heifer International roughly $30,000 will is distributed to local farmers in Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, and Watauga counties in North Carolina and Johnson County, Tennessee.
Southern SARE Grants
The Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Program recognizes the value and importance of on-the-farm, producer experience in developing solutions to agricultural production challenges. In order to capture this producer experience, the Southern SARE program offers Producer Grants -- a competitive grants program intended to help farmers and ranchers develop sustainable production and marketing practices.
Helps build sustainable farming communities in the mountain region by providing resources directly to farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations.
*Mary Boyer Sustainable Food & Agriculture Grants
The purpose of the Mary Boyer Sustainable Agriculture and Food Grants are to strengthen our local food system by supporting female farmers, ranchers, and processors who plan to create innovative, sustainable solutions to producing or marketing obstacles in the High Country.
Direct to Farmer Grants
In 2015 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture administered Direct-to-Farmer grants for the first time. With funding from Heifer International roughly $30,000 will is distributed to local farmers in Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, and Watauga counties in North Carolina and Johnson County, Tennessee.
Southern SARE Grants
The Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Program recognizes the value and importance of on-the-farm, producer experience in developing solutions to agricultural production challenges. In order to capture this producer experience, the Southern SARE program offers Producer Grants -- a competitive grants program intended to help farmers and ranchers develop sustainable production and marketing practices.
Grant Databases and Guides
Start2Farm - About Grants
List of grants that may be helpful to farmers just starting out or expanding their operation.
*ATTRA - List of Funding Opportunities
The ATTRA project has served as the premier source of information about sustainable agriculture for U.S. farmers and other agriculturists for more than twenty years.
List of grants that may be helpful to farmers just starting out or expanding their operation.
*ATTRA - List of Funding Opportunities
The ATTRA project has served as the premier source of information about sustainable agriculture for U.S. farmers and other agriculturists for more than twenty years.
Crowd Funding Opportunities
Barn Raiser
From healthy and artisanal foods to community kitchens and organic farms, Barnraiser's mission is to put a billion dollars into the hands of food innovators as they reshape a healthy food world.
Indigogo
Indiegogo empowers people to activate the global community to make ideas happen. Then, they help you spread the word.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is full of projects, big and small, that are brought to life through the direct support of people like you. Since our launch in 2009, 8.2 Million people have pledged more than $1.6 Billion, funding 80,000 creative projects. Thousands of creative projects are raising funds on Kickstarter right now.
Gofundme
GoFundMe was launched on May 10, 2010 and has quickly become the World’s #1 fundraising site for personal causes and life-events. Hundreds of thousands of people have raised over $830M from 9M donors for the things that matter to them most.
From healthy and artisanal foods to community kitchens and organic farms, Barnraiser's mission is to put a billion dollars into the hands of food innovators as they reshape a healthy food world.
Indigogo
Indiegogo empowers people to activate the global community to make ideas happen. Then, they help you spread the word.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is full of projects, big and small, that are brought to life through the direct support of people like you. Since our launch in 2009, 8.2 Million people have pledged more than $1.6 Billion, funding 80,000 creative projects. Thousands of creative projects are raising funds on Kickstarter right now.
Gofundme
GoFundMe was launched on May 10, 2010 and has quickly become the World’s #1 fundraising site for personal causes and life-events. Hundreds of thousands of people have raised over $830M from 9M donors for the things that matter to them most.
Slow Money & Creative Methods
SEAM
Supporting Economic Alternatives in the Mountains (SEAM) threads together bold entrepreneurial ideas and community investments in the High Country through participatory decision making. At a locally-sourced, family-style dinner, three selected proposals are presented to the community. Dinner attendees then choose to fund each project at three levels (60%, 30%, and 10%) of the crowd-sourced funds raised through the dinner tickets.
Supporting Economic Alternatives in the Mountains (SEAM) threads together bold entrepreneurial ideas and community investments in the High Country through participatory decision making. At a locally-sourced, family-style dinner, three selected proposals are presented to the community. Dinner attendees then choose to fund each project at three levels (60%, 30%, and 10%) of the crowd-sourced funds raised through the dinner tickets.
Guides
*Carolina Farm Credit
North Carolina farmers and rural residents can qualify for loans for farms, homes, agribusinesses and more from Carolina Farm Credit.
*Guide to FSA Farm Loans
This guide was written for people who need assistance starting, expanding, or owning a farm or ranch.
*Guide to FSA Microloan Program
This guide will introduce you to the new Microloan program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under this new program, FSA will make loans of up to $35,000 to farmers for farm operating expenses. This guide will help you know what to expect should you choose to apply for a Microloan for your farming operation.
Start2Farm - Funding Basics
Financing fundamentals for a farm or ranch business.
Agrarian Trust - Farm Financing Guides
A compilation of resources from finance guides to how to manage debt.
Farm Aid - Guide to Financial Resources
Creating a financial plan for your farm business will help you achieve your goals. Explore the resources posted here to learn about agricultural lending, contract agreements, financial planning, loan and grant programs, and more.
RAFI-USA - Farmer's Guide to Agricultural Credit
This guide is a tool to help transitioning farmers and farm entrepreneurs to take the useful steps in preparing and presenting his or her business plan.
North Carolina farmers and rural residents can qualify for loans for farms, homes, agribusinesses and more from Carolina Farm Credit.
*Guide to FSA Farm Loans
This guide was written for people who need assistance starting, expanding, or owning a farm or ranch.
*Guide to FSA Microloan Program
This guide will introduce you to the new Microloan program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under this new program, FSA will make loans of up to $35,000 to farmers for farm operating expenses. This guide will help you know what to expect should you choose to apply for a Microloan for your farming operation.
Start2Farm - Funding Basics
Financing fundamentals for a farm or ranch business.
Agrarian Trust - Farm Financing Guides
A compilation of resources from finance guides to how to manage debt.
Farm Aid - Guide to Financial Resources
Creating a financial plan for your farm business will help you achieve your goals. Explore the resources posted here to learn about agricultural lending, contract agreements, financial planning, loan and grant programs, and more.
RAFI-USA - Farmer's Guide to Agricultural Credit
This guide is a tool to help transitioning farmers and farm entrepreneurs to take the useful steps in preparing and presenting his or her business plan.
