The Working Lands Enterprise Board announced on March 18 that it has awarded a total of $1,047,320 in grants to 34 Vermont farm, forest, and food businesses and organizations for 2026.
The funding aims to support the growth and adaptation of Vermont’s agriculture and forestry industries. The grants are intended to help businesses increase sales, improve efficiency, and strengthen rural communities across the state.
According to the announcement, three types of grants were distributed: Service Provider & Producer Association Grants totaling $370,000 to ten recipients; Business Enhancement Grants totaling $647,320 to nineteen businesses; and Trade Show Assistance Grants totaling $30,000 to five businesses. The Service Provider & Producer Association Grants will fund apprenticeships for future foresters, business advising services, and specialty food trade shows. Business Enhancement Grants will support projects such as cheese cave improvements, egg washing equipment purchases, new maple taps installation, timber processing equipment upgrades, and sawmill enhancements. Trade Show Assistance Grants will help offset costs for agricultural producers exhibiting at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers.
“These investments help businesses increase sales and efficiency while growing the Vermont economy, making it more affordable and strengthening our rural communities,” said Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts.
The board reported that demand for grant funding was high this year. A total of 169 applications were received requesting more than $6 million in funds—far exceeding the available budget. As a result, many qualified projects could not be funded this cycle. The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative receives an annual allocation of $1 million from the state budget with occasional additional special funds as determined by lawmakers.
Applications for the next round of grants are expected to reopen in the fall. More information about the program is available at https://workinglands.vermont.gov.
