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Applications for agricultural micro grant available

Andrew Zehr from Makana Aina Farm works on his new water catchment system purchased with a Maui County Agricultural Micro Grant. MAUI ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY photos
Michelei Tancayo from Aina May LLC bought a chipper to mulch trees and branches.
Naomi Guth, and husband Patrick, of Guth Farms smile in front of a bridge they purchased to connect parts of her farm to expand operations and a solar pump to irrigate the new section of her farm through the Maui County Agricultural Micro Grant program, administered by the MEO Business Development Center.

The Maui News

Applications for the Agricultural Micro Grant Program 3.0, which offers up to $25,000 to Maui County small farmers and ranchers, will be available in two weeks.

Beginning Oct. 17, the $3 million county-funded program that’s administered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center will be open to farms operating on less than 12 acres as well as livestock ranches up to 40 acres possessing a county business or state general excise license as of July 1, 2022.

Preference will be given to women and Native Hawaiians, according to a news release. The deadline to submit applications is Dec. 16.

MEO said that the grants may be used to directly impact the availability of locally-grown produce, livestock and poultry and other related products.

Funds may be used for farming equipment and machinery; processing and storage equipment; farm infrastructure, expansion and upgrades; inventory and supplies; packaging and packaging materials; and technology equipment.

Documentation required includes a completed application, a statement expressing farm needs, a copy of original General Excise Tax License or filed form G-45 or G-49, a photo ID, and a 2021 State Tax Return Form N-11 (proof of residency).

Farmers can apply on the MEO website at https://www. meoinc.org/agricultural-micro-grant-program/ or in-person at MEO’s Wailuku office located at 99 Mahalani Street.

For more information, contact the MEO Business Development Center by phone at (808) 249-2990 or by email at bdcinfo@meoinc.org.

Two in-person informational grant workshops will be conducted Oct. 12 at MEO Family Center in Wailuku and Oct. 13 at an Upcountry location, to be determined.

Both gatherings begin at 4:30 p.m.

The Oct. 12 meeting will be offered via Zoom as well by using the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85320934279?pwd=VTI2czZPUzlzcjczWUFJUU05ajFkQT09.

The meeting ID is 853 2093 4279; passcode 221305.

Grant application and award information will be presented to help applicants understand the process and the documents required for grant applications.

Previous agriculture micro grant programs, funded by Maui County and operated by MEO’s BDC, helped more than 160 small farmers.

Starting at $4.62/week.

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