Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP)
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program provides Massachusetts farms with business planning, technical support, and capital grants to boost farm viability in exchange for a long-term agricultural use covenant.
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Full application deadline for FVEP)
Funding Amounts: Grant awards typically $90,000, $130,000, or $175,000 (recent cycles); actual amount based on farm size and acreage under covenant; funds support capital improvements.
Summary: Supports Massachusetts commercial farms with business planning, technical assistance, and capital grants in exchange for an agricultural covenant to preserve farmland.
Key Information: This is a forecasted grant; deadlines and details are projected and subject to change.
Description
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) provides established commercial farms in Massachusetts with comprehensive business planning, technical assistance, and grant funding to increase farm viability and preserve agricultural resources. In return for signing a 10- or 15-year agricultural covenant to keep the property in agricultural use, participants may receive significant grant funding for capital improvement projects. Eligible projects include construction or renovation of barns, farmstands, wash/pack facilities, equipment purchases, and improvements to wells or fencing. The program also offers individualized technical support in business planning, succession, marketing, and financial tracking.
