PROGRAM GUIDELINES

The Kentucky State University Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families (KSU-CSFF) Small-Scale Farm Grant Program was established to support the expansion of certain types of agriculture in Kentucky, especially among under-served groups. Grant funding decisions are based upon the future impact expected on the production and sales of Kentucky-grown and Kentucky-raised farm products.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

A Kentucky-based farm with gross annual agricultural sales greater than $1,000 and below $250,000 in the previous two years. This is a self-declaration but must be verifiable.

  • Kentucky-based, formal, non-governmental organizations and cooperatives that serve multiple Kentucky farms or producers (farm/producer names must be provided and verifiable). Special considerations will be made for:
  • Small acreage producers

RESTRICTIONS

This grant does not fund start-ups (farms established less than one year ago).

Applications are considered incomplete without the Category Supplemental Form and/or without quotes/estimates for requested items. Quotes can be online shopping carts or screenshots of items, as long as the cost of the item is visible.

  • Late applications received after a stated deadline will not be included until the next review session.
  • Individuals can apply for up to $5,000 per application, with a lifetime limit of $10,000.
  • Individual funding is limited to one individual per household/address or farm number/address.
  • Association/Non-Profit funding is limited to a one-time $15,000 award. The proposed project must benefit multiple Kentucky farms and/or producers. Verifiable support letters from producers are required with the application.
  • All approved recipients must comply with all health, food safety, and other federal, state, and local laws. Kentucky State University employees and their immediate family members are INELIGIBLE.
  • Equipment requests greater than $5,000 require a verified match.

NON-ALLOWWABLE REQUESTS

NO motorized vehicles or equipment (e.g., trucks, tractors, walk-behinders).

NO labor costs paid to the applicant nor their relatives.

NO consumables, disposables, expendables (i.e., jars, lids, labels, product packaging, seed, feed, soil, compost, live plants, fertilizers, pesticides, drip tape, etc.).

NO livestock purchases, including horses.

  • NO slaughter fees, water testing or other product testing fees, consulting or technical assistance fees.
  • NO perimeter fencing