FMC Announces Market Manager Professional Development Mini-Grant Program

      Posted On: September 22, 2009

The Farmers Market Coalition is  excited to announce the availability of Information Marketplace Professional Development Mini-Grants, available to state and regional farmers market organizations hosting trainings for market managers, market boards,  and/or producers during Winter 2009-2010.  Eligible organizations can apply for one of approximately 16 grants (up to $500 each)  to support professional development programs to strengthen farmers markets.

To be eligible for this program, organizations must be active Farmers Market Coalition members who have had an organizational representative participate in at least three Information Marketplace webinar sessions. Only farmers market associations, agencies, and other organizations, not individual farmers markets, may receive funding at this time.  Organizations are encouraged to incorporate topics from the Summer 2009 Information Marketplace Webinar Series in their workshop agendas.  Archived webinar recordings, presentations, and handouts are all available on the Farmers Market Coalition web site free of charge.

The deadline for applications is November 15, 2009, and grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. For more information and the application form, please  visit http://www.farmersmarketcoalition.org/information-marketplace.   Questions can be addressed to info@farmersmarketcoalition.org, or 304-263-6396.

Support for these mini-grants is provided by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Farmers Market Promotion Program.