The New England Beef to Institution (NEBI) Steering Committee announces the availability of matching grant funds for the purpose of enhancing regional beef and dairy beef producer access or expansion to institutional market outlets in New England. These funds should serve to assist New England producers in the marketing, aggregation, storage, processing, and/or distribution of regionally produced beef by providing them with the coordination and facilities to access an institutional market.
A. Available Funds and Timeline
An initiative of the Farm to Institution New England (FINE) Collaborative, the NEBI Steering Committee received $10,000 from the John Merck Fund to provide matching grants to encourage the development of the institutional market for New England beef and dairy beef. We are now accepting applications from New England meat producers, slaughter facilities or meat processors, distributors, support organizations and producer or processor groups, for institutional market development.
The maximum grant amount is $10,000.
Key Dates:
March 14, 2012 Proposals Due
April 20, 2012 Grantees Notified
June 15, 2012 Interim Report Due
July 31, 2012* Projects Complete, Final Report Due
*Longer projects may be considered
B. Eligibility and Program Goals
The goal of the NEBI Initiative is to increase the amount of local ground beef entering New England institutions and increase farm viability by offering access to diverse institutional markets. A team of marketing consultants has analyzed institutional demand for New England beef, and assessed feasible models to meet this demand. The study concluded that there are opportunities for growth in the local beef to institutional market in all six New England States, and that there are two models that could be replicated on a regional basis to service this demand:
1) a producer-driven model that is designed for the buyer with decision-making control and a proactive desire to source local beef; and
2) a processor-driven model designed to service buyers constrained by price and institutional requirements. The models create opportunities for beef and dairy producers, as well as processors across New England.
The link to the full report can be found online: here
Eligibility:
New England-based beef or dairy beef producers, processors or distributors in pursuit of institutional market development, or organizations or associations that will directly support New England producers' access to institutional market expansion all qualify for funding consideration.
Applicants that represent a partnership of organizations, including farmers and institutions, are highly encouraged. One lead organization that will coordinate grant activity and act as fiscal agent must be identified.
Eligible uses of funds for increasing institutional market access include:
Market Access and Development – e.g. coordination of or attendance at matchmaking events or trade shows, subsidizing samples or transportation costs during the start-up phase, consumer education, web platform development
Planning – e.g. feasibility studies, processor enterprise analysis
Infrastructure Development – e.g. capital improvements, equipment purchases
Match requirements: All applicants must demonstrate matching funds representing 50% of total project costs. For instance, for a $10,000 project, applicants must demonstrate $5,000 in match on a $5,000 grant request.
Eligible match sources can include: your own capital, outside investment capital, grants from private or public sources. The matching funds must be directed to the same project for which you are requesting grant funds. Up to 100% of match support can come in the form of in-kind time and services related to the institutional market development activities.
Contact me for the full application if you are eligible.