Grants of up to $50,000 available for agricultural projects

If you have a farm, nursery, ranch, aquaculture operation, or any related agricultural industry, the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council has funds to help you grow your business in the form of grants for up to $50,000 to help Oahu farmers this year.

Grants will support projects that strengthen and promote Oahu’s agricultural businesses and increase the capabilities of local farmers, ranchers and agricultural entrepreneurs, including those in aquaculture. Examples of projects funded in the past include:

• $6,000 to install fish tanks at aquaculture facility
• $35,000 to clear and prepare land for agricultural production
• $13,000 to upgrade an irrigation system for trees and crops
• $47,000 to purchase processing equipment to pack and distribute greens
• $21,000 to purchase and install a greenhouse for tomatoes and cucumbers

The Oahu Agricultural Development Program will award the grants to fund a portion of a project – awardees must provide at least a 20 percent share of the project costs. Brief pre-proposals are due April 5. Selected applicants will be encouraged to submit full proposals and awards will be announced by May 31.

Projects must be located on Oahu. To apply, submit a two-page pre-proposal using a pre-proposal template to explain and “sell” the project. The steering committee will select the most promising applicants to submit full proposals.  Click here to download the template, or contact the Oahu RC&D at admin@oahurcd.org or (808)483-8600 ext. 122 for templates or more information.