ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 30, 2009

MARKETING GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS MARKETS

BISMARCK – May 1 is the deadline for applications for the 2009 Farmers Market Mini-Grants.

“The grants help farmers markets spread the word about their locations and hours of operation, and to recruit new vendors.” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson.

Eligible uses for the funds include media advertising, circulars, flyers, posters, banners, in-market activities or entertainment and point-of-sale promotional materials.

The $500 grants are available only to farmers markets, not individual vendors.

Johnson said the grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to qualified applicants. About $16,000 is available for the program from a U.S. Agricultural Marketing Service grant to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Markets awarded grants must submit receipts for all purchases made with the grant money. Grant recipients are responsible for full documentation of how the money is spent. Unused funds must be returned to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Application forms are available from Holly Mawby, Farmers Market Mini-Grant Program, P.O. Box 145, Churchs Ferry, ND 58325 or hollyrose.mawby@msub.nodak.edu. Applicants must also submit a copy of their farmers market by-laws, a current listing of officers, and a paragraph describing how the grant money will be spent.

North Dakota has more than 50 farmers markets. The North Dakota Farmers Markets Guide is available at www.agdepartment.com/Programs/Farmers%20Markets.html.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.