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Description

The Urban Agriculture Cost-Share Grant Program assists small agribusinesses operating in urban areas. Acceptable projects should focus on:

  • Growth and development of agribusinesses
  • Development of production infrastructure or direct distribution venues
  • Providing training and developing skills for agribusiness sustainability
  • Projects that demonstrate economic growth

Projects should support urban agriculture. Acceptable projects include, but are not limited to:

  • Business plan development
  • Marketing Plan
  • Feasibility Study
  • Community Gardens

FY24 Grant Timeline

Applicants will be responsible for following the timeline and communicating in advance if deadlines cannot be met:

Application Submission Deadline:
Anticipated award date:
Project Expense Form Deadline:
Final Report Deadline:
Inspection Completed* by:
*Projects must be complete or near completion at time of inspection.

Sept. 15, 2023
Mid Oct. 2023
Feb. 29, 2024
April 30, 2024
May 31, 2024

All reimbursable project expenses must be made between the award date and Feb. 29, 2024.

Grant Amount

The grant amount awarded to any person, group of individuals, business or organization related to addressing urban agriculture and economic development is 75% of the total project expenditures, up to $10,000.

Examples:

Total Project Expenditures
$7,500
$10,000
$13,334
$15,000

Amount to be Reimbursed
$5,625
$7,500
$10,000
$10,000

Who is Eligible?

Applicants may be an individual, groups of individuals, businesses, and organizations related to agriculture. Eligible projects must aid small agribusinesses and provide workforce development to Missouri residents and reside within one of the following urban areas, as designated by the 2020 US Census:

Aurora, MO
Bolivar, MO
Bonne Terre, MO
Boonville, MO
Branson, MO
Brookfield, MO
Camdenton, MO
Cameron, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO
Carthage, MO
Caruthersville, MO
Chillicothe, MO
Clinton, MO
Columbia, MO
De Soto, MO
Dexter, MO
Eldon, MO
Eureka, MO
Excelsior Springs, MO
Farmington, MO
Forsyth, MO
Fort Leonard Wood-St. Robert-Waynesville, MO
Fredericktown, MO
Fulton, MO
Hannibal, MO
Harrisonville, MO
Higginsville, MO

Holts Summit, MO
Jefferson City, MO
Joplin, MO
Kansas City, MO
Kearney, MO
Kennett, MO
Kimberling City, MO
Kirksville, MO
Lebanon, MO
Lee's Summit, MO
Macon, MO
Marshall, MO
Marshfield, MO
Maryville, MO
Mexico, MO
Moberly, MO
Monett, MO
Mountain Grove, MO
Neosho, MO
Nevada, MO
Odessa, MO
Osage Beach, MO
Pacific, MO
Peculiar, MO
Perryville, MO
Platte City, MO
Pleasant Hill, MO
Poplar Bluff, MO

Republic, MO
Richmond, MO
Rolla, MO
St. Clair, MO
Ste. Genevieve, MO
St. Joseph, MO
St. Louis, MO
Salem, MO
Savannah, MO
Scott City, MO
Sedalia, MO
Sikeston, MO
Smithville, MO
Springfield, MO
Sullivan, MO
Trenton, MO
Troy, MO
Union, MO
Village of Four Seasons, MO
Warrensburg, MO
Warrenton, MO
Washington, MO
West Plains, MO
Whiteman AFB-Knob Noster, MO
Willard, MO

The United States Census Bureau defines urban areas as: densely developed territories that encompass residential, commercial, and other nonresidential urban land uses. Each urban area must encompass at least 2,000 housing units or at least 5,000 people. This is a change from the previous minimum of 2,500 people which had been in place since the 1910 Census.

Urban areas are defined primarily based on housing unit density measured at the census block level. Three housing unit densities are applied during the delineation process:

  • Initial urban core: at least 425 housing units per square mile. Based on the national average of 2.6 people per occupied housing unit, this density threshold is similar to the 1,000 people per square mile used in 2000 and 2010 when delineating initial urban cores.
  • Remainder of urban area: at least 200 housing units per square mile.
  • At least one high-density nucleus of at least 1,275 housing units per square mile required for qualification. This ensures that each urban area contains a high-density nucleus typical of what one would expect to find within an urban area. This is similar to the 500 people per square mile density used for the 2000 and 2010 Censuses, based on the national average of 2.6 people per occupied housing unit.

In addition to the change in minimum thresholds for qualification and the change to use of housing unit density, the Census Bureau also no longer distinguishes between urbanized areas of 50,000 or more people and urban clusters of less than 50,000 people comprising all territory, population, and housing units located in urbanized areas and in places of 2,500 or more inhabitants outside of urban areas. The term urban refers to both kinds of geographic entities.

How does the Program Work?

Projects will be selected on a competitive basis. Each application will be evaluated and scored using the following criteria:

  • Credibility and merit
  • Impact potential
  • Timeliness of impact
  • Partner Support

Once awarded, grantees may begin making all approved project expenditures during the outlined grant period. Reimbursements will only be made for expenditures paid for between the date of award and Jan. 31, 2024. All expenses submitted must include detailed receipts with clear proof of payment.

Grantees will be responsible for meeting ALL of the following requirements prior to reimbursement:

  • Register to do business in Missouri and be in good standing with the Secretary of State, if applicable. Visit sos.mo.gov for more information.
  • Complete and submit Form 943 to obtain a tax clearance certificate (valid for 90 days) from the Missouri Department of Revenue for each owner and the business. For more info, visit https://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/notaxdue/.
  • Must have proof of enrollment in E-Verify by providing an MOU issued from e-verify.gov.
  • Register as a vendor with the State of Missouri through the MissouriBUYS web portal.

Reimbursements will only be made for approved expenditures accrued during the grant period and for detailed receipts submitted with clear proof of payment.

Eligible & Ineligible Expenses

Awarded funds are intended to be used on project supplies including the following examples:

  • Garden tools (Any tools requiring fuel must be pre-approved)
  • Plants, seeds, soil, fertilizer
  • Greenhouse materials and installment
  • Fencing materials
  • Construction materials
  • Electrical supplies
  • Plumbing supplies
  • Contracted work within grant period
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Food processing equipment and supplies
  • Storage facilities and equipment

Awarded grant funds are NOT intended for the following:

  • Paying off existing loans
  • Costs incurred prior to the date or grant award
  • Food purchases
  • Livestock or poultry purchases
  • Security system equipment and/or installation
  • Operational costs such as payroll, utilities, or insurance
  • Salaries/fringe benefits of those involved in the grant project
  • Buying or leasing land or buildings
  • Buying or leasing of machinery or equipment, unless previously approved
  • Fuel purchases
  • Grant writing expenses
  • Costs incurred through other MDA financial opportunities

Submission

FY24 Urban Agriculture Cost-Share Grant applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2023. Applications may be submitted to:

Missouri Department of Agriculture
ABD – Urban Ag Grant
P.O. Box 630
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Email: Grants@mda.mo.gov

For additional information or questions, email Grants@mda.mo.gov or call (573) 751-7794.

Urban Ag Grant FAQs

Urban Ag Grant Guidelines