PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Tweenbrook Farm was awarded a $90,000 Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Improvement Program (AIP) grant for a barn roof repair.

 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $650,000 in grants to 13 farms across Massachusetts, following their successful completion of required business planning and the formal approval of their proposed capital investment plans of equipment and infrastructure, that will strengthen their operations and support the local agricultural economy. The funding, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) through the Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) Program and the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Improvement Program (AIP), provides business assistance and capital funding for farms to grow and enhance their contributions to the farming community.

 

"Massachusetts farmers are essential to our economy, our food supply, and our communities," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "These investments give farmers the tools they need to grow their businesses, improve their operations, and remain competitive. Their success means more jobs, stronger local economies and fresh, locally grown food for communities across Massachusetts."

 

This year, the MEGA Program has allocated $65,900 to seven beginning farms, in addition to providing individualized business planning and technical assistance, to help foster their growth. After completing their business plans, participants also receive matching grants of up to $30,000 to fund priority capital improvements identified through the planning process. Since its launch in 2010, the MEGA Program has awarded more than $1.2 million in total grants to 132 farms, averaging around $9,804 per farm, and provided $555,600 in business and technical assistance.

 

The APR Improvement Program has awarded $592,980 in total grants for infrastructure improvements to six protected farms this year. Similar to the MEGA Program, AIP provides business planning and technical assistance to participating farms but is available to established commercial farms with land that is protected through MDAR's APR Program and offers grants of up to $150,000 per farm to help sustain their agricultural production. Since 2009, AIP has awarded nearly $10 million to 133 APR farms across the state, that collectively steward a total of 18,844 acres of farmland.