Lapaau Farms in Wailuku was one of the small farms to receive a 2025 Agricultural Micro Grant, through a program funded by Maui County and administered by MEO. In-person informational sessions for grants in 2026 are set for early January. Photo courtesy Maui Economic Opportunity

The nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity will host two workshops in early January to help qualified farmers and ranchers secure grants up to $25,000.

The first workshop for grants offered through the Agricultural Micro Grant Program 6.0 will be Jan. 5 at the nonprofit’s Family Center in Wailuku, and the second is set for Jan. 7 at Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani. Both sessions start at 5 p.m.

For residents on Molokai and Lanai, a livestream will be provided by Webex on Jan. 5. The application period for the $3 million grants program opens Jan. 15.

Maui Economic Opportunity said preference will be given to socially disadvantaged agricultural applicants such as women and Native Hawaiians and to farmers who did not receive funding in prior fiscal years from the micro-grant program.

The nonprofit said applicants must possess a county business or state general excise license for the farming or ranching business as of July 1, 2025.

Low revenue from sales will not disqualify applicants, but the nonprofit is requiring farm and ranch businesses and any partners to be Maui County residents for a minimum of one year before the date of the applicant’s grant request.

Except for $250,000 that’s for flowers and plants used to make lei, all of the grant money will go to food-producing farm businesses that operate on less than an aggregate of 12 acres or up to an aggregate of 40 usable acres for livestock producers within Maui County.

Farmers and ranchers can apply at meoinc.org or in-person at MEO’s Wailuku office, 99 Mahalani St. For more information, contact the MEO at (808) 249-2990 or by email at bdcinfo@meoinc.org.