The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) is offering the Farm to School and Early Childhood Vision Grant to expand farm to school and early childhood programming throughout Vermont. This grant aims to amplify innovative efforts in individual school communities, strengthen broader farm to school support systems, and focus on underserved communities. The goal is to improve child nutrition, enhance educational experiences, and connect youth with the land, local farms, and their communities. Projects funded under this opportunity must address the interconnections between agriculture, nutrition, community, and health.

Applicants are required to use either qualitative or quantitative evidence to identify a specific challenge impacting their community. The application must demonstrate how the proposed farm to school initiative will address that challenge. Applications will be assessed based on how well they address these interrelated goals and their potential to create lasting, replicable models of success.

Eligible applicants include Vermont schools, school districts, licensed and/or registered childcare providers, and licensed afterschool programs. Both individual institutions and collaborative groups or networks may apply. Additionally, nonprofits or community organizations conducting programming in Vermont are eligible if they demonstrate partnership with a school, childcare provider, afterschool program, or a member of the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network.

The grant supports three main project types: developing or expanding innovative farm to school initiatives that can be shared or replicated; scaling up support systems to serve multiple schools or early childhood programs at regional or statewide levels; and reaching underserved communities, particularly those identified using the 2024 Vermont CACFP Mapping Tool or with high rates of food insecurity or low recent grant funding. A history of past grant awards is available to help applicants determine eligibility under this category.

The application period for the 2025 grant cycle is open from February 27 to April 10, 2025, with a final submission deadline of 2:00 PM on April 10. Interested applicants must register with WebGrants (which may take up to two business days), and complete their application using the provided Application Guide. An informational webinar was held on March 12, 2025, and a recording is available for those who missed it.

Program contact for this grant is Gina Clithero at gina.clithero@vermont.gov or 802-585-6225. Technical assistance for WebGrants is available through Lily Bradburn at Lily.Bradburn@vermont.gov or 802-480-1652. Additional information and updates can be accessed through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture’s official website.