The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) has announced the 2024 Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program (previously known as the Farm Viability Grant) has awarded more than $531,000 to fund 21 projects received from Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments, and/or agricultural nonprofit organizations for projects that directly impact or foster agricultural viability.

A Newtown 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is among this year’s recipients.

Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt noted 25% of the awarded projects this year were brand-new applicants. That point, he said, demonstrates “revisions to this program are reaching a more diverse audience and increasing agriculture viability in our state.

“The awarded projects align with agency priorities to diversify who is growing food, where it is being grown, and how it is being grown,” the commissioner continued. “From new and expanded youth agriculture curriculums to promotion of farmers’ markets and increasing food and land access these projects will support a diversified ecosystem of agriculture in Connecticut in the years ahead.”

Eligible entities could apply to one of six questions of focus, as well as two microgrant categories.

CT DoAg received 33 grant applications requesting funds totaling $775,620. Of the awarded projects, $169,868 was directed towards seven Youth Agricultural Education projects, $148,399 to three Food Supply Chain awards, $94,799 to three Urban Agriculture awards, $90,649 to two Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion projects, $23,450 to five farmers’ market promotion efforts, and $5,000 to one applicant identified project.

Real Food CT received a $49,999 Food Supply Chain Grant. The funds will be used to purchase foundational infrastructure to establish a comprehensive food hub including a refrigerated shipping container, cooler truck, fencing, well/water hookups for wash station, food hub software, and produce safety training.

Founded in 2019 in southern Newtown, Real Food CT (RFCT) believes healthy food is an integral part of a healthy life. Seeing that too many people in its region of Connecticut are hungry and food pantries lack adequate amounts of healthy food options, RFCT connects local farms and hunger relief organizations to provide neighbors in need with the nutrition they deserve. RFCT serves Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County.

The Connecticut DoAg’s Agricultural Enhancement Grant is a matching grant program for Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments and agricultural nonprofit organizations for projects that directly impact and/or foster agricultural viability.

Funding for the Agricultural Enhancement Grant is provided through the State of Connecticut Agricultural Viability Grant Program, established in 2005 through Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing, and Historic Preservation.

More information about the program can be found at www.CTGrown.gov/grants.