USDA announces $99MM in grant funding through two programs

May 09, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $26.5 million in grant funding available through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises.

LAMP includes the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP). USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications for the grant programs until June 27, 2025.

More information on the program can be found here.

USDA also announced $72.9 million in grant funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).

The program funds innovative projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, education, and research. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications until July 7, 2025.

Eligible applicants are agricultural agencies or departments of agriculture in the 50 States, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Participating states and territories will subaward funding to locally led projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, floriculture, and nursery crops. Those interested in applying for a subaward should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture. A list of state contacts is available on the SCBGP website.

SCBGP is funded through the 2018 Farm Bill and its funds are distributed to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value.

More information on the program can be found here.