<break time=’3s’/>Financial Supports | Funding Opportunities for Beekeepers<break time=’1s’/>
Grants for Raising Honey Bees<break time=’500ms’/>
Beekeepers are struggling to save honeybees from a variety of threats. In 2006, a quarter of U.S. bee colonies vanished by a strange disease called Colony Collapse Disorder. Moreover, with the attack of Africanized bees and disease-spreading mites, the entire situation becomes a matter of shock.<break time=’500ms’/>
To tackle this situation, different types of grant money are provided for beekeepers. Such as Federal Grants, State Grants, Corporate Grants, Beekeeping project grants, and so on.<break time=’500ms’/>
A large portion of American agriculture depends on honeybees. According to PBS, honeybees pollinate one-third of agricultural produce in the U.S. So, it’s very important to save our bees, and for that reason, Federal & state governments, independent organizations, and some other corporations offer grant money to new beekeepers, intend to start beekeeping and experienced beekeepers to motivate them.<break time=’1s’/>
01. Nonprofit and Private Organization Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
Some non-profit and private organizations like Churches, Foundations, Clubs, and Professional associations provide grant money for beekeepers. Some Organizations distribute grant funds to beekeepers from other organizations. I like to mention that in 2010, Marla Spivak was awarded a “Genius” grant of $500,000 from the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.<break time=’500ms’/>
02. Federal Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
Under SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Programs, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers grants to farmers, producers, & students. They also offer non-profit & research areas for pest & weed management in addition to crop and livestock variety and marketing.<break time=’500ms’/>
03. State Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
Many states provide grant money to beekeepers or distribute federal grants assigned to them. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture provides 50% of the cost-share grant to qualified beekeepers for expanding and improving pollination & honey production under the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program.<break time=’500ms’/>
04. Corporate Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
Haagen-Dazs, Burts Bees, and many other similar companies donated thousands of dollars to scientific research on beekeeping and the safeguarding of honeybees. Since 2008 at Pennsylvania State University and the University of California at Davis, Haagen-Dazs has donated $620,000 for honey bee research purposes.<break time=’500ms’/>
Similarly, Burts Bees also provided a grant to a non-profit organization devoted to the health of North American pollinators. It was an initiative of the pollinator partnership and the Honeybee Health Improvement Project.<break time=’500ms’/>
<break time=’500ms’/>05. Apiary Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
An Apiary is defined as the place of keeping our bees and beehives for the production of honey. It could be a hobby, small business, side business, or full-time business on a large scale. A beekeeper is known as an apiarist. Bees are great pollinators in our agriculture, especially for the crop.<break time=’500ms’/>
Due to colony collapse disorder between 2006 and 2010, a huge number of bees are lost. That is why USDA increased funding for research in rebuilding the bee population and keeping them healthy by preventing and protecting them in a scientific way.<break time=’500ms’/>
US Government is encouraging our new generation to start the apiary to ensure a sufficient bee population in the near future. So they started sanctioning different types of grants for beekeeping like Agricultural grants, small business grants, start-up grants, and so on.<break time=’500ms’/>
06. Rural Enterprise Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
The USDA started granting rural projects to help small business entrepreneurs in rural areas. This grant range is from $10,000 to $500,000 for a small business where employees are fewer than 50 and yearly gross revenue is less than $1 million.<break time=’500ms’/>
07. USDA Conservation Innovation Grant – Pollinator initiative<break time=’500ms’/>
Some states started grant programs for the protection innovation of bees. This grant is to help small business owners adopt innovative approaches. Kansas CIG funds individuals and for-profit small businesses for demonstrations and pilot projects.<break time=’500ms’/>
Starting an Apiary is eligible to obtain this grant from $50,000 to $200,000. New Jersey, Alabama, and Virginia including some other states are offering similar grants.<break time=’500ms’/>
08. Farmers Market Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
This Farmer market promotion program started in 2011, providing grants from $5,000 to $100,000 to the eligible agricultural cooperatives, group-or member-owned producers who sell agricultural products. A cooperative Apiary business may qualify for this grant.<break time=’500ms’/>
09. Rural Business Opportunity Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
This grant in 2011 pays up to $150,000 to the rural cooperatives engaged in agricultural business projects. Beekeeping is considered under this grant. The cooperatives must have evidence of financial strength and expertise to carry out the activity. So, if you have expertise in apiculture or beekeeping you can form a cooperative and apply for this grant.<break time=’500ms’/>
10. Aggie Bonds<break time=’500ms’/>
This is known as the Beginning Farmer Loan Program or Aggie Bond. Under this program, state governments help First-time farmers by creating a bond to receive a low-interest loan from lenders. A rural apiary business starter is eligible to receive this loan as a first-time farmer.<break time=’500ms’/>
For more information about “Grants for Beekeeping” please visit our website thebeeinfo.com
Grants and Funding Opportunities for Small Business |
<break time=’3s’/>Grants and Funding Opportunities for Small Business <break time=’1s’/>
#1. Federal Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
Under SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Programs, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers grants to farmers, producers, & students. They also offer non-profit & research areas for pest & weed management in addition to crop and livestock variety and marketing.<break time=’500ms’/>
The USDA offers several Agriculture Marketing Service Grants, like the Organic Certification Cost Share program. This program offers organic producers & handlers through the state to compensate for some costs of organic qualification.<break time=’500ms’/>
This program also offers a Specialty Crop Grant Program to encourage the competitors of specialty crops. The USDA enlisted beekeeping as an eligible specialty crop under the category of Nursery, Floriculture & Horticulture.<break time=’500ms’/>
#2. State Grants<break time=’500ms’/>
Many states provide grant money to beekeepers or distribute federal grants assigned to them. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture provides 50% of the cost-share grant to qualified beekeepers for expanding and improving pollination & honey production under the Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program.<break time=’500ms’/>
Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Connecticut offer equipment and colony stipends, raffles, or door prizes to beginner beekeepers – according to USA Today.<break time=’500ms’/>
#3. Rural Enterprise Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
The USDA started granting rural projects to help small business entrepreneurs in rural areas. This grant range is from $10,000 to $500,000 for a small business where employees are fewer than 50 and yearly gross revenue is less than $1 million.<break time=’500ms’/>
Beginners are eligible to avail of this fund for the Apiary. Of course, types of business, the nationality of the applicant, place of the apiary, etc are considerable factors for sanctioning this fund.<break time=’500ms’/>
#4. USDA Conservation Innovation Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
Some states started grant programs for the protection innovation of bees. This grant is to help small business owners adopt innovative approaches. Kansas CIG funds individuals and for-profit small businesses for demonstrations and pilot projects.<break time=’500ms’/>
Starting an Apiary is eligible to obtain this grant from $50,000 to $200,000. New Jersey, Alabama, and Virginia including some other states are offering similar grants.<break time=’500ms’/>
#5. Farmers Market Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
This Farmer market promotion program started in 2011, providing grants from $5,000 to $100,000 to the eligible agricultural cooperatives, group-or member-owned producers who sell agricultural products. A cooperative Apiary business may qualify for this grant.<break time=’500ms’/>
#6. Rural Business Opportunity Grant<break time=’500ms’/>
This grant in 2011 pays up to $150,000 to the rural cooperatives engaged in agricultural business projects. Beekeeping is considered under this grant. The cooperatives must have evidence of financial strength and expertise to carry out the activity. So, if you have expertise in apiculture or agriculture you can form a cooperative and apply for this grant.<break time=’500ms’/>
#7. Aggie Bonds<break time=’500ms’/>
This is known as the Beginning Farmer Loan Program or Aggie Bond. Under this program, state governments help First-time farmers by creating a bond to receive a low-interest loan from lenders. A rural apiary or small business starter is eligible to receive this loan as a first-time farmer.<break time=’500ms’/>
For more information, please visit our website thebeeinfo.com<break time=’500ms’/>
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