Maple Funding Resources

Throughout the year, there are competitive opportunities for the Vermont Maple Industry to access funding through state agencies, the USDA, as well as non-profits committed to improving Vermont’s working landscape. We will continue update information and resources with you through how-to tips, articles, grant links, and partner webinars. 

Maple syrup bottles shaped like leaves, filled with amber syrup.

Step One: Business Planning

Have you considered what UVM Extension's Maple Business Planning Services can offer you? Grant applications are competitive and many can hinge on offering strong financial information. Before you dive into grant applications, make sure your "back of house" work is in order. Consider reaching out to the great resource we have with UVM Extension's Maple Business team.

UVM Extension partners with the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program to provide one-on-one, in-depth business planning; business coaching; and free business clinics to Vermont’s maple, farm and forest related enterprises. 

Schedule a coaching session with their team

NAMSC Maple Hall of Fame: 2025 Nominations

USDA Value-Added Producer Grants

The application for the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPGs) is now available. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these grants to help farmers create new products, expand markets, and increase their income. Approximately $25 million in total is available for this program.

You can use grant and matching funds for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. There are two levels of grant awards. Planning Grants have a maximum award of $50,000, and Working Capital Grants have a maximum award of $200,000. Both levels of grants require a one-to-one match of the grant amount.

The following entities are eligible to apply: agricultural producers or producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled, producer-based ventures.

For federal fiscal year 2026, the USDA will accept applications from February 17 until April 22. For more information, visit the USDA's website HERE.

Note on USDA REAP Grants: The current administration has not awarded any new REAP grants since taking office. USDA is updating its regulations based on an Executive Order from July 2025. There will be no issued Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for these grants in federal FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025 - Sept 30, 2026). See their FAQs HERE.

Man drilling into a tree with a yellow drill in a forest setting.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Funding (NRCS)

USDA NRCS assists sugar makers by providing conservation technical assistance (it all starts with a walk in the woods!). This assistance can lead to funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under the Farm Bill or Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). NRCS conservationists work with landowners and managers to implement energy and forestry conservation practices on the farm. Examples of how NRCS can help upgrade inefficient equipment with more efficient technology includes reverse osmosis (RO), evaporators, and high-efficiency pre-heaters. Other funding recipients have received support to make their lands more resilient to weather events and erosion.

The program funds a wide variety of projects from equipment to land management - call your Vermont representatives today to learn more. Better yet, find your Farm Services Agency office (FSA) by clicking here and tap into important support for your working lands!

Luis Aponte
Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships
Luis.aponte@usda.gov
802-881-7984

Trevor Saylor
Public Affairs Specialist
Trevor.saylor@usda.gov
802-881-9738

Your local USDA Service Centers are designed to be a single location where customers can access the services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies. 

VMSMA hosted a webinar with Luis and Trevor from NRCS on June 25, 2024. You can watch that recording here.

Woman operating syrup production equipment indoors, wearing blue shirt.

Efficiency Vermont Rebates

Efficiency Vermont wants to help reduce sugar maker energy usage and/or fuel consumption - resulting in benefits for the land and for your operation. 

They currently have rebates for maple equipment including Reverse Osmosis systems, Variable Frequency Drives (with Vacuum Pumps) and Efficient Sap Preheating. These rebates can be accessed through the Efficiency Vermont website or give them a call at 888-921-5990 to receive one-on-one assistance. 


 

Smoke billows from a chimney on a rustic wooden house at sunset.

VT Agency of Agriculture and State Grants

First things first, if you have never applied for a grant with VAAFM, you will want to register for access to their web grants portal. You can find their online form here. Registration can take a few days, so it’s best to register ahead of time, in anticipation of future applications. 

Each grant program is generally announced with a “Request for Applications” (RFA). While usually a lengthy document, it’s always an important read to understand who is eligible for each program, the associated timelines and the purpose of the funding. These RFAs are shared well in advance of the application deadlines in order to give you time to review them and ask any questions you might have, and still submit your application on time. You can find the annual calendar of funding opportunities on VAAFM’s website here.

Back in September 2023, we offered a Member webinar with the Agency of Ag talking about their funding opportunities. It’s a good overview to give you a sense of what’s available and worth a watch!

Working Lands Business EnHancement Grants

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) makes strategic investments and develops policy recommendations that support a resilient and sustainable farm, food, and forest economy in Vermont.  Since its founding in 2012, WLEI has invested over $19.5 million in 593 farm, food, and forest projects all across Vermont.

WLEI's Business Enhancement Grants program offers notices of funding opportunities each fall. Award amounts are generally $20,000 - $35,000 for successful applicants with project areas in market development, research and development, infrastructure development, energy, and workforce training and development. Individual businesses with a variety of structures (sole proprietorship, corporations, LLCs, etc) are eligible to apply. In recent rounds of Business Enhancement Grants, eligible projects included market development, research and development, infrastructure development, energy-focused projects, and workforce training and development. Usually $450,000 - $650,000 is available in funding each year. You can find more about these grants HERE.

In September 2025, we offered a Member webinar about the WLEI program. You can watch the video HERE.


Trade Show Assistance Grants

Are you a sugar maker who sells wholesale and is looking to grow your out-of-state business through trade show exhibits? VAAFM offers 50% matching grants between $2,000 and $5,000 to assist with travel and accommodation expenses, booth design and marketing assets, registration fees, booth fees, and other costs. You can find more details on the VAAFM website HERE.


Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG)

Annually, the Agency offers a competitive grant program to disburse SCBG funds. Where do these funds come from? The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). AMS offers programs and services that create marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber and specialty crops (maple is considered a specialty crop). AMS awards Specialty Crop Block Grants to Vermont (and the other 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia) and VAAFM administers the funding. Any business, organization, or individual can apply to the Vermont SCBG Program, but projects must benefit more than one specialty crop business, organization or individual to be eligible. You can find more about these grants HERE.


Other Grants and Assistance through Vermont Agencies

There are a whole host of other funding opportunities that are not specific to maple, but might fit your operation - including barn preservation (for barns older than 50 years) and diesel emissions reduction. You can find information on those opportunities through links on VAAFM’s website here.


 

Agency Contacts

Madison Berry
Specialty Crop Program Coordinator
Contact for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Madison.Berry@vermont.gov

Clare Salerno
Working Lands Program Coordinator
Contact for Working Lands Enterprise Initiative Grants
Clare.Salerno@vermont.gov