KSU Small-Scale Farm Grant
Kentucky State University Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families
Up to $5,000 per application; lifetime maximum $10,000 per farm business
Up to $5,000 per application (lifetime max $10,000) for Kentucky small-scale farms in priority enterprise categories.
Kentucky State University's Center for the Sustainability of Farms and Families, in partnership with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and Board, awards grants of up to $5,000 per application to Kentucky small-scale farms. The program supports value-added enterprises, certified organic agriculture, agroforestry/specialty crops, food systems resiliency, and emerging agricultural technologies, with a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per farm business.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $0 – $5,000
- Realistic amount
- $2,500-$5,000 for equipment and supplies that expand farm operations or value-added production
- Deadline
- Two annual deadlines: October 1 and December 1 (verify year on program page)
- Status
- active
- States
- KY
Who qualifies
- Kentucky-based small-scale farm with gross annual agricultural sales greater than $1,000 and below $250,000 in the previous two years
- Project must fall within one of the priority categories: Value-Added Enterprise, Certified Organic Agriculture, Agroforestry/Specialty Crops, Food Systems Resiliency, or Emerging Agricultural Technologies
- Farmers must be motivated to improve their business and able to document successes
- Partial funding of equipment greater than $5,000 requires verified matching funds
- Kentucky State University employees and their immediate family members are not eligible
Who is not eligible
- Farms with gross annual agricultural sales of $250,000 or more
- Farms with gross annual agricultural sales of $1,000 or less
- Kentucky State University employees and immediate family members
- Applicants requesting motorized vehicles, labor costs to the applicant or relatives, consumables/seeds/feed/trees, or perimeter fencing
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Cold storage and commercial kitchen equipment
- Production-related implements and tools
- Irrigation and walk-behind implements
- Harvesting, processing, storage, and packaging supplies for specialty crops
- Educational trainings and materials (up to $500 lifetime max $1,000)
Ineligible expenses
- Motorized vehicles, tractors, walk-behinds
- Labor costs paid to applicant or relatives
- Consumables such as jars, seeds, feed, trees, or plant materials
- Perimeter fencing
- Purchases made prior to grant approval
How to apply
-
1
Select a priority category
Choose the category that best fits your project: Value-Added Enterprise, Certified Organic Agriculture, Agroforestry/Specialty Crops, Food Systems Resiliency, or Emerging Agricultural Technologies.
~1 hrs
-
2
Prepare project description and budget
Describe who will do the work, when it will be done, expected outcomes, and provide quotes for all budgeted items.
~4 hrs
-
3
Submit application by deadline
Email or mail the completed application to Allison Noel at KSU by the October 1 or December 1 deadline.
~1 hrs
-
4
Submit receipts and reports after award
If funded, submit receipts and a detailed report of projected results for reimbursement.
~2 hrs
Value-Added Enterprise is the most flexible category for farms adding cold storage, commercial kitchen equipment, or canning supplies to turn raw products into marketable goods.
Deadline & timing
Deadlines listed as October 1 and December 1; confirm the current year's dates on the KSU program page before applying.
Required documents
- Completed category-specific application form
- Project description and timeline
- Budget with vendor quotes for all items
- Proof of Kentucky farm operation and sales history
- Documentation of matching funds (if equipment exceeds $5,000)
Related programs
This program is not taking applications today — these are
Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on August 24, 2026 — all 165 open grant programs · filter the database.
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Researched and verified 2026-08-24 against the official program source. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.