.png)
The New CT Farmer Alliance (NCTFA) is pleased to announce a MICROGRANT round of our Climate Smart Ag and Forestry grant program! We will be awarding microgrants of up to $900 to Connecticut farms winter/spring 2025/2026 to fund small Climate Smart projects.
Read more about our past Climate Smart Grantees here.
Who is eligible?
NCTFA’s grant program is open to any farm in Connecticut. Please note that non-profit farms are ineligible for this grant for this round. We will give priority consideration to applications from new/beginning farmers, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers, LGBTQ+ farmers, veteran farmers, and farmers who speak English as a second language.
what does the grant cover?
Farmers can apply for funding to cover any small-scale Climate Smart Farming practices. To see examples of the types of activities that are climate smart for your farm, please reference this NRCS Climate Smart Activities List.
Examples of Climate Smart Projects:
-
Purchase of equipment for cover cropping, reduced till, and no-till systems
-
Pasture development and fencing
-
Agroforestry (pasture or crops are integrated with trees and shrubs) and perennial crop plantings
-
Energy efficiency upgrades & establishment of energy-efficient infrastructure, including the purchase of electric tools and equipment
-
Climate smart irrigation projects
-
Season extension
-
On-farm composting
-
Equipment, gear, and infrastructure to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and to protect farm workers
-
Projects that promote knowledge sharing between farmers about climate smart practices
What is NOT covered?
Areas NOT funded by this grant:
-
Land acquisition or mortgages
-
Cost of borrowing (points and other fees)
-
Expenses related to establishing a new organization/business
-
Any portion of expense for which the applicant pays a contractor in merchandise or service in lieu of cash
-
Tuition/tuition reimbursement or career-related/scholarship funds
-
Disposable supplies (office, farm, otherwise) unrelated to the project
-
Legal expenses related to litigation
-
Income Taxes
-
Any expenses before grant contract is signed
Grant amounts
Grant amount:
-
Up to $900. No matching required.
Deadlines & timeline
Deadlines and timeline:
-
Applications open on October 13, 2025 and close on
February 1, 2026, or when funds run out -
Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a monthly basis
-
Project purchases need to be made by March 2026
.png)
questions?
Please let us know how we can help with your application.
Contact Liz at nctfaclimate@gmail.com for English
Para información en español, contacte Ella Kennen al newctfarmers@gmail.com
Funding for this project was paid for by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
