Micro-Grant Application

Micro-Grants for Adirondack Working Lands

Enhancing environmental benefits for farmers and value-added producers
Welcome to the 10th year of the Micro-Grants for Adirondack Working Lands program! Before proceeding to the application, please read through the following information as the application has changed from prior years.

For this round of grants, the Essex Farm Institute (EFI), a program of the Adirondack Council, seeks grant proposals for two tiers of eligibility with awards that will enhance the environmental benefits provided by local farms, forests, and businesses.
- Tier I: Up to $1,500 for current commercial farm or forestry operations and/or commercial value-added producers that
  - employ at least one part-time employee or are a full-time owner-operator;
  - depend on farming, forestry, or value-added products as a livelihood;
  - gross more than $5,000 annually and/or have at least 5 acres in production; and
  - For value-added producers: source at least 50% of raw inputs/ingredients from within the Adirondack Park.
- Tier II: Up to $3,000 for current commercial farm or forestry operations and/or commercial value-added producers that
  - employ at least 10 part-time employees (including owner-operator);
  - depend on farming, forestry, or value-added products as a livelihood;
  - gross more than $250,000 annually and/or have at least 100 acres in production; and
  - For value-added producers: source at least 50% of raw inputs/ingredients from within the Adirondack Park.
The application consists of seven (7) sections and should take about 30 minutes to complete if you have prepared the following in advance:

1) Your total business income from the previous year,

2) a brief description of your business and project goals, and

3) an itemized budget using this template.

You may click the "save" button to return to your application at any time. You do not need to create a JotForm account if you choose "skip create an account" and then type in your email. The form you've been working on will be sent to your email.

A quality project application will:
- be complete, with a level of detail and supporting documentation to verify the farm, forest, or business is currently operating and within the Adirondacks,
- align with and fulfill the EFI mission and vision as well as the microgrant program purpose, and
- fulfill tangible goals (e.g., pounds of food produced, acres of habitat created, tons of carbon dioxide or equivalency of emissions reduced, etc.)
Note that farms and businesses are limited to one application per grant cycle. In addition, preference will be given to projects that will be fully funded by the requested grant amount.

Applications are due March 31st at 11:59 PM EST. Awards will be announced during the week of Earth Day (4/22), 2025.

All applications must be submitted through JotForm unless an applicant prefers to submit a paper copy. To request a paper copy of the application, please call (518) 810-4648 and leave a message including an address for where the application should be sent.

If it sounds like this program and your project are a good match, please continue to the application by clicking the "next" button below.

Section I: Eligibility

Nobody likes filling out an application only to find out that you don't qualify. In this section we'll make sure that you're eligible for this grant to save everybody time!
Are you within the Adirondack Park boundary?*

YesNo
Does your project proposal align with and fulfill the Essex Farm Institute’s mission and vision (below)?*

YesNo
MISSION

The mission of the Essex Farm Institute (EFI) is to support, promote and train farmers to build resilient, diversified farms that are economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally beneficial.

VISION

EFI’s vision is for farms in the Adirondack Park to:

(1) provide prosperous, secure, long-term livelihoods for farmers and their workers;

(2) mitigate climate change through healthy agricultural soils and leadership in renewable energy;

(3) directly improve human health through available, accessible locally-grown food and other agricultural goods.
Does your project proposal align with the purpose of the Micro-Grant program (below)?*

YesNo
PROGRAM PURPOSE

The micro-grant program provides funds to support innovative solutions that address climate change, habitat connectivity, water quality and energy efficiency on Adirondack working lands.

Section II: Your Information

We'll get the driest part of this application out of the way.
Applicant Name*

First NameLast Name
Physical Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Is your mailing address different than your physical address?*

Yes, it's differentNo, it's the same
Mailing Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number*
Email Address*
example@example.com

Section III: Farm or Business Information

We're hoping to learn a bit more about your farm, forest, and/or business(es). This will help us get a sense for how things work during your day to day, and if you're a good fit for this grant.
Please select what category suits your application type best:*

FarmValue-added producerFarm and value-added producer
Website (if more than one separate with ";")
Instagram (if more than one separate with ";")
Facebook (if more than one separate with ";")
Other Social Media
How many acres do you currently use for agricultural and/or forestry purposes? If a value-added producer, respond with "N/A".*
Describe in one paragraph your farm(s) or business(es). Please include mission/vision/goals, type (veggie, dairy, diversified, etc.), and current practices (such as organic, conventional, no-till, in-transition, no-spray, etc.) in 100 to 300 words.*
How many employees does your business have including yourself? Please indicate any seasonal positions and full vs. part-time in 100 words or less. *

0/100
What were your farm, forest, and/or business' approximate gross sales for the past year? If you are a value-added producer, please list only sales from eligible products (those made with inputs grown/raised harvested in the Adirondack Park).*
Please provide a brief summary of products sold from the previous year in 50 to 100 words. *

0/100
Which grant tier are you applying for?*

Tier I – Up to $1,500 for current commercial farm or forestry operations and/or commercial value-added producers that: employ at least one part-time employee or are a full-time owner-operator; depend on farming, forestry, or value-added products as a livelihood; gross more than $5,000 annually and/or have at least 5 acres in production; and for value-added producers: source at least 50% of raw inputs/ingredients from within the Adirondack Park.Tier II – Up to $3,000 for current commercial farm or forestry operations and/or commercial value-added producers that: employ at least 10 part-time employees (including owner-operator); depend on farming, forestry, or value-added products as a livelihood; gross more than $250,000 annually and/or have at least 100 acres in production; and for value-added producers: source at least 50% of raw inputs/ingredients from within the Adirondack Park.
Do one or more of the following characterize your farm, business or project in your application? (Select all that apply)

Managed/owned by a person(s) belonging/identifying with a group that has been subject to racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, or other prejudicesEmploys historically marginalized employees that will directly benefit from the projectGrant money will be primarily spent at a business owned by an individual who identifies with a group subject to historical or contemporary prejudice

Section IV: Project Description

Project areas can include, but are not limited to, soil management, water quality improvements, energy conservation, and emissions reductions. Preference will be given to proposals that will be fully funded by the micro-grants, utilize or support regenerative practices, and align with Essex Farm Institute’s vision and mission.
Describe your project and how it will enhance the environmental benefits your farm, forest, and/or business(es) provide to the community in 100-300 words.*

0/300
What month do you expect to start the project? (must be before March 2026)*

Section V: Budget & Reporting Requirements

Tell us a bit about how much this project will be, how you hope this grant could support the project, and confirm that you can meet the reporting requirements. A link to a sample budget can be found on the Essex Farm Institute webpage.
Total project cost*
Project budget (.xls file preferred)*

Cancelof
Requested grant amount*
Have you explored or exhausted other potential funding sources for the proposed project?*

YesNo
If you receive partial funding, will you still be able to complete this project?*

YesNo
Reporting Requirements

If awarded a grant, will you be able to meet the following reporting requirements? Please select "yes" to acknowledge each grant reporting requirement.
Submit a 500 word summary with at least one quality photo (300 dpi), OR a 1-minute video describing your funded project (including successes & failures).*

Yes
Provide copies of paid invoices relevant to budgeted items if requested.*

Yes
Agree to a staff member site visit at a pre-arranged time slot in the spring or fall.*

Yes
Remit unused project funds (if any).*

Yes
Provide information and data on tangible outcomes to quantify the impact of the grant.*

Yes

Section VI: Attestation

Final stretch! Initial and we're all set.
Your initials below attest that you are an authorized business owner/member and attest to your eligibility as a farm operation as defined by NYS or, if a value-added producer, that a majority of inputs for your product(s) are grown, raised or harvested inside the Adirondack Park. ‘Initials’ will operate as the party’s signature without recourse as though fully signed for all legal purposes.
Please initial below:*
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Thank you for your grant application

Unfortunately, based on your answers in the eligibility portion, you do not meet the eligibility criteria. If you believe this is an error, please go back to the eligibility section. If you have further questions, please email microgrants@adirondackcouncil.org.
Should be Empty:

Micro-Grants for Adirondack Working Lands

Section I: Eligibility

Section II: Your Information

Section III: Farm or Business Information

Section IV: Project Description

Section V: Budget & Reporting Requirements

Reporting Requirements

Section VI: Attestation

Thank you for your grant application