Proposals to the Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) grant program focus on business planning, business structure, marketing, marketing planning, distribution, business expansion, business transfer, keeping and expanding land in agricultural production, and developing or enhancing value-added product recipes and techniques.

Funding priority goes to proposals that include farmer participation across agricultural sectors, commodities, production management systems, or regions of the state.

Grant eligibility

Eligible grant applicants include farmers, producer groups, researchers, educators, organizations, agencies and businesses.  Applicants may represent nonprofit or for-profit sectors.

Projects work with New York State resident farmers and outcomes benefit agriculture in the state.

Grants awarded

For examples of previously funded Agriculture Innovation Center projects, please visit the Funded Projects section of this website; click here.  Sort projects by ``AIC'' to generate a list of previusly-funded projects. 

For your information

The deadline to apply for Agriculture Innovation Center grants in 2013 is August 11, 2013.   Please be advised that specific proposal requirements, deadlines, amount available for funding, and grant programs offered may vary by year.

Award maximum

Individual projects should not exceed expenses of: $150,000.

Project duration

Individual projects should last at least six months and may not exceed two years.

Deadlines

RFP Released: May 8, 2013

Applications due: 11:59 p.m. August 11, 2013

Funding notification: January 2013

Request for Proposals

Please review the complete Request for Proposals before applying for funding.  To download the RFP, click here.