Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) clarified match language in the Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG) Request for Applications (RFA). The match requirements are updated as follows:
- Match requirements. Grant recipients are required to contribute 50% of the total proposed project cost as a match to Federal funding. This applies to all applicants except those who qualify for the reduced match described in the next bullet point.
- Reduced Match for Small and Underserved Business Owners. For grant recipients that are Historically Underserved Farmers or Ranchers or for other businesses that qualify under the Small Business Administration (SBA) categories of Small Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Small Business, and Veteran-Owned Small Business, the match requirement is reduced to 25% of the total proposed project cost as a match to the Federal funding. Applicants will be required to self-certify in their Project Narrative Template to become eligible for this reduced match.
On May 10, USDA announced the OMDG program will fund up to $75 million in competitive grants to support the development and expansion of new and existing organic markets. The program aims to create new and better markets access for organic products, increase capacity for processing, storage, handling/shipping, and increase the consumption of organic agricultural commodities.
AMS is soliciting applications from certified organic or transitioning food producers or handlers, non-profit organizations, tribal governments, and state and local government. Through OMDG, AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. USDA is looking for applications that address the following pinpointed organic markets or other markets with clearly defined needs.
- Organic grains and livestock feed
- Organic dairy
- Organic fibers
- Organic legumes and other rotational crops
- Organic ingredients currently unavailable in commercial form
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. on August 8, 2023. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.
For questions, contact OMDG@usda.gov or view the FAQ document. Additional information is available on the AMS Organic Market Development Grant Program webpage. AMS hosted a webinar on May 24 to provide applicants with an overview of the program. To listen to the webinar recording you may go to View the OMDG Webinar. Applicants can also register to attend OMDG office hours for assistance.
To learn more about grant funding opportunities to enhance and strengthen agricultural systems, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Grants and Opportunities webpage.
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