DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KIAʻĀINA
SHARON HURD
CHAIRPERSON
HAWAI`I BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – CORRECTED
NR24-21
July 11, 2024
HDOA OPENS MICRO-GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURE
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is now accepting applications for the popular Micro-Grant for Food Security Program (MGFSP). This is the fourth year of the grant program which provides support for small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food-insecure communities. A total of $3,576,470 is available for this year’s program which was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2018 Farm Bill.
This year’s program is open to:
o Organizations receiving awards will be required to provide matching funds of at least 10% of the grant award. The matching funds cannot be derived from other federal sources.
The online application form and program information for individuals are available at the HDOA Market Development Branch (MDB) website at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/mgfsp/. The Request for Proposals for organizations is posted on the State Procurement Office website at: https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/24573
The deadline for applications is noon on August 12, 2024.
“The Micro-Grant program is, by far, the most popular of our grant programs as it provides financial resources to individuals and organizations to support small-scale farming,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. “While the grant awards are not huge, the impact of increasing food security for families and communities has been very heartwarming.”
Consideration will be based on the description of the project, the number of beneficiaries, the outcome production of the project. Previous MGFSP awardees are not eligible for this year’s grant program.
Examples of the types of activities that may be funded under this grant include:
Individual applicants will have an option to choose one category of three that is offered; Category A – Gardening, Category B – Livestock and Herding, Category C – Apiary.
Organizations will complete a project profile template and present their project selection.
A webinar, with information and application instructions, will be posted tomorrow, July 12, 2024, on the Micro-Grants web page at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/mgfsp/
Questions regarding the application process may addressed to the MDB at 808-973-9594 or email: [email protected]
Last year’s program received 1,680 applications, of which 575 were awarded, ranging between $3,000 to $5,000 and totaling more than $2.6 million to individuals and $90,000 to organizations.
The previous year, 7,400 applications were received, of which 579 were awarded, ranging from $750 to $5,000 and totaling about $2.6 million.
Examples of proposals that were funded in last year’s round included projects for:
An example of one of the projects awarded through the MGFSP is a program developed on Kaua‘i at the Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Charter School, under the guidance of Ms. Joeanne Mick. To view what the kindergarten students have done with the micro-grant in their Aloha Garden, go to: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WzyunAY88vMEE7WHJjf8yDMguRPCTKVZ/view?usp=drive_web__;!!LIYSdFfckKA!wPlAdr8ClqqHH7BY_BT5cnJw93kJ9QhvDYgOYONXxKqc5SC_XyXrOqkVXLdm95Lv3tzeuwouZ0HB7oaYWW-iHOMxAN0eb9PdIo9f7WI$
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Media Contact:
Janelle Saneishi, Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
808-973-9560
[email protected]
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov
HDOA is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, retaliation, or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or any other class as protected under federal or state law, with respect to any program or activity.
For more information, including language accessibility and filing a complaint, please contact HDOA Non-Discrimination Coordinator at 808-973-9591, or visit HDOA’s website at http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/.
To request translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, or other auxiliary aids or services for this document, contact the HDOA at 808-973-9591 or email [email protected].
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