Two local farms receive grants under New York's 'New Farmers Grant Fund' ~ O'Mara, Senate colleagues first proposed fund in 2014 as part of ongoing 'Grown in New York' strategy

Albany, N.Y., June 9—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) today said that two local farms are among 25 early-stage New York State agribusinesses that will share $743,000 in grants as part of the second round of funding under the state’s “New Farmers Grant Fund.”

The fund was first proposed as part of the Senate Republican Majority’s ongoing “Grown in New York” agricultural development strategy, which O’Mara has co-sponsored.  Grants provided through the fund seek to help diversity and increase the profitability of early-stage farmers.

“These ongoing initiatives and investments to assist, encourage and spark the success of New York’s next generation of farmers are critical to help keep our regional and statewide agricultural economies among the strongest and best in the nation,” said O’Mara, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee  and the joint, bipartisan Commission on Rural Resources.

Local farms being awarded grants are:

> Plowbreak Farm, Schuyler County, $21,404; and

> Van Noble Farm, Tompkins County, $40,362.

The fund is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) together with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.  According to ESD, more than 55 applications were submitted for this round of grant funding with projects scored competitively based on specific criteria including project readiness. Grants can be utilized for project costs including expansion of production, farm building construction, equipment and seed purchases, or efficiency upgrades.

O’Mara said that the 2016-17 state budget includes an additional $1 million to support a third round of funding under the New Farmers Grant Fund.