This list of funding sources is
solely based on public information already disseminated
by the listed entities. It is a collection put together
to facilitate a one-stop access to such
agricultural-related funding sources.
HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, MARKET DEVELOPMENT BRANCH:
The Market Development Branch promotional
program’s funds, on a fifty/fifty basis,
legally registered agricultural
associations’ generic promotional programs.
Qualified applicants should demonstrate a good
understanding of their industry and show how the
financial assistance will help solve the
industry’s stated main problem, and finally
how their promotional project will be evaluated.
OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS (OHA): OHA financial assistance program
serves primarily the native Hawaiian community.
Ag-related-community-based projects targeting the
native Hawaiian community may qualify for
funding. For eligibility inquiries, contact:
Office of Hawaii Affairs
CBED Specialist
711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 500
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Tel: (808) 594-1752, Fax: (808) 594-1865
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
COUNTY OF MAUI, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR: The Economic Development Program
grants support to a diversity of economic sectors
including agriculture. Grant applications are
readily available and will be evaluated by a
review team. Contact:
Office of Economic
Development
County of Maui
200 S. High Street, 6th Floor
Wailuku, HI 96793
Tel: (808) 270-7710, Fax: (808) 270-7995
E-mail: [email protected]
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM, CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
development (HUD) provides Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds to cities including the
City and County of Honolulu. CDBG funds are
divided in loans, grants, and technical
assistance to economic development projects that
benefit low- and moderate-income people. Funded
projects have included rural economic, and
agricultural development projects. Contact:
Chief, CBDG Unit
Department of Budget & Fiscal Services
City and County of Honolulu
530 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Tel: (808) 527-5067
Fax: (808) 527-6968
SELECTED
FEDERAL AGENCIES FUNDING SOURCES
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)-FARM SERVICE
AGENCY (FSA): The farm Service Agency runs a
multi-facet program that comprises farm credit
programs and natural disaster related programs,
the later subject to the US President or the
Secretary of Agriculture designations as such.
Agricultural Credit
Programs: Available to ag-enterprises
including nursery, orchard, vegetable,
agro-forestry, aquaculture, and livestock.
Direct Loans are limited to $200,000, and
guaranteed loans through private
institutions, $700,000.
Commodity Loan programs:
For wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats,
rye, oilseeds, rice, tobacco, peanuts, milk,
cotton, sugar, and honey.
Disaster and Emergency
Payment Assistance: For rehabilitation of
farms on a cost sharing basis for emergency
conservation practices.
Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP): Helps farmers to
substitute crops grown on erosion prone
farmland for permanent vegetative covers. In
return the farmer receives an annual payment
through a multi-year contract.
Emergency Conservation
Program (ECP): Assists farmers and
ranchers to return back to operation
including clean up and restoration caused by
a natural disaster.
Environment Quality
Incentive program (EQIP): Addresses
locally identified natural resource concerns
including soil erosion, water quality and
quantity, and grazing land. Cost Sharing may
reach 75% of certain conservation practices.
Contractual agreement last 5 to 10 years.
Contact:
NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION (NFF): The
NFF has recently established the Community Assistance Program (CAP) to
promote the creation of locally based forest partnerships. Visit
http://www.natlforests.org
and search on “grants” to read about successful partnerships. Funds
may be used for a variety of needs including: basic start-up and
operating costs, materials and equipment, technical assistance.
Grant Connections. Visit
http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/gchomepg.htm for more information
about opportunities appropriate for university faculty as well as
community groups. Updated monthly by the Southern Rural Development
Center.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE (USDA)-RURAL DEVELOPMENT: USDA Rural Development agency
comprises three services: Rural
Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing
Service (RHS) and Rural Utilities Services (RUS).
The field offices at the state and local levels
administer the programs. Most relevant to rural
agribusiness, is RBS which mission is to build
competitive rural businesses and cooperatives.
There is also (a) The USDA Rural
Development’s Business & Industry
(B&I) Loan program that had, so far, served
aquaculture, nurseries, and forestry businesses,
meat processing and distribution projects. (b)
The Rural Development’s rural Business
Enterprise Grant (RBEG) funding had included
agribusinesses project. (c) The Rural
Development’s Intermediary Re-lending
Program (subject to RD Instruction 4274-D)
provides funding support also. Contact:
USDA, Rural Development
ATTN: RBS
Hawaii State Office Room 311, Federal Building
154 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: (808) 933-8302, Fax: (808) 933-8327
USDA COOPERATIVE STATE
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE
(CSREES) GRANT-Western Region Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE): The goal of this subtitle is to
encourage the research and education designed to
increase our knowledge concerning integrated
systems of plant and animal production practices
having both a site specific and regional
application that will over the long-term improve
food sources, the environment, efficient use of
renewable resources, enhance economic and social
wellness. Contact:
Western SARE Program
Agricultural Science Building, Room 305
Utah State University
4865 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-4865
Tel:(435) 797-3537, Fax:(435) 797-3376
Email: [email protected]
SMALL BUSINESS
INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM (SBIR) GRANT: This program invites science-based
small business firms to submit research proposal
for funding. Topic areas include Forests and
Related Resources, Plant Production and
Protection, Animal Production and Protection,
Air, Water and Soils, Food science and Nutrition,
Rural and Community Development, Rural and
Community Development, Aquaculture, Industrial
Applications, and Marketing and Trade. Contact:
Dr. Charles F. Cleland
Director, SBIR Program
Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
STOP 2243
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington D.C. 20250-2243
Tel: (202) 401-4002, Fax: (202) 401-6070
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
(SBA)’s HAWAII DISTRICT OFFICE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE REFERRAL (FAR) PROGRAM: The Financial Assistance Referral
Program allows participating banks’
officials to refer credit worthy entrepreneurs to
SBA for assistance. An SBA Economic Development
Specialist of the Business Information and
Counseling Center (BICC) will help the business
owner to prepare a viable and complete loan
package. Still, the participating bank has to
approve the SBA guaranteed loan. Contact:
SBA Economic Development
Specialist
Hawaii District Office
300 Ala Moana, Room 2-235
Box 50207
Honolulu, HI 96850
Tel: (808) 541-2990
U.S.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FOR EXPORTS FUNDING
The federal government tries to
encourage small businesses to export by offering
financing programs through the Export-Import Bank, the
Small Business Administration, and the Overseas Private
Investment Corp and other relevant agencies listed below.
TradeNet’s Export Advisor: Provides, via a website,
information on export market research, export
laws, business opportunities, financing,
federal forms and trade shows for exporters of
agricultural products.
Export-Import
Bank: Provides
a variety of loans, guarantees, and insurance
programs to exporters.
Overseas
Private Investment Corp: - Provides loans and political risk
insurance to business expanding in developing
nations and emerging markets.
Western United States
Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA): WUSATA combines federal, state,
and industry resource for export market
development. The association has a Company
Matching Fund program that reimburses 50% of the
costs of promoting branded products in foreign
markets. Pre-qualified then approved companies
can claim eligible expenses reimbursement such as
international trade show, travel to international
trade shows, in-store demonstrations,
point-of-sale materials, print and broadcast
advertising, and more. Contact:
Market Development Branch, Hawaii
Department of Agriculture
Tel: (808) 973-9594
Fax: (808) 973-9095
Email:
[email protected]
WUSATA Region
Tel: (360) 574-2627, Fax: (360) 574-7083
