Farm relief mini-grants are offered

Are you a farmer in need of economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic?

You may be able to get a $500 mini-grant through Appalachian Sustainable Development.

However, the application deadline is Dec. 14, and the competition could be fierce.

ASD announced Nov. 30 that it has received an additional $14,000 from the Appalachia Funders Network in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Funds will be awarded to local and regional farmers in a second round of grant funding under the Central Appalachian Family Farm Fund.

In July, a first round of relief funding awarded 19 farmers a total of $9,500 in mini-grants.

In December, ASD will award 28 mini-grants of $500 each to local and regional farmers to help offset some of the impacts of the pandemic on the most vulnerable workers in agriculture. Beginning, limited-resource and socially disadvantaged farmers are encouraged to apply.

Direct support is to be used to offset loss of income and help farmers with farm expenses and overall operations expenses.

Applications are due Dec. 14 by 5 p.m. Award checks will be mailed to farmers within 30 days.

Farmers should apply at this link: https://forms.gle/2jEazjgqnoqd5NE87.

Priority will be given to farmers who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, have been most disadvantaged before the crisis due to race, gender, or another protected class or have the largest proportion of their income derived from their farm production.

Farmers must be located in one of 25 Virginia counties including Wise, Lee, Scott and Dickenson. Also eligible are farmers in 50 Tennessee counties.