Program Open/Applications Now Accepted!

The Farm Assistance Program is open and accepting applications effective May 31, 2024. Before you apply, please review this page in full to ensure you submit a complete application package that meets all program requirements. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Program Overview

Farms are an integral part of the Glastonbury community, and the challenging weather that occurred throughout 2023 has negatively impacted our local farmers.

To support our local farmers, the Town of Glastonbury established the Farm Assistance Program (FAP) 2024. This reimbursable grant program will provide one-time funding support to eligible farmers to help them overcome the financial hardships resulting from 2023 weather events, and/or to invest in the long-term viability of their farm business.

The Glastonbury Town Council appropriated $220,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the 2024 Farm Assistance Program (FAP). This program is consistent with the U.S. Treasury Guidelines and the Glastonbury Town Charter.

Each qualified farm is eligible to apply for a one-time grant of up to $10,000. Applicants who own more than one farm business in town must select one (1) eligible entity for which they will apply for grant funding.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the FAP, the farm business must:

• be current on all property taxes owed to the Town of Glastonbury.
• actively farm at least 10 acres of land in Glastonbury, CT.
• farm Glastonbury land that is registered in the PA490 program.
• gross at least $100,000 per year based on the total average gross of their 3 best years over the last 5 years.
• have sustained a financial hardship due to the 2023 weather. 

Note: Town of Glastonbury elected officials will NOT be eligible for this program.

Applicants may apply for funding to cover reimbursable expenses from the period of January 1, 2023 through October 31, 2024. Expenses must be associated with your farm operation in Glastonbury, CT.  Expenses incurred for farmstands or operations in other towns are NOT eligible for reimbursement.

Expenses do NOT need to link directly to weather challenges, but certainly can if applicable.

Grant recipients must provide the Town with proof of expenditure(s) through receipts, paid invoices, and similar documentation as part of their complete application to be considered for grant reimbursement.

Grant monies can be used to REIMBURSE one or more of the following expenses:

   ☐  Payroll / Recruitment / Training
   ☐  Rent / Mortgage Assistance
   ☐  Utilities
   ☐  Operational expenses
   ☐  Equipment / Technology
   ☐  Capital improvements
   ☐  Marketing programs to support farm business growth
   ☐  Investments to improve viability of the farm business

If you have questions about expense eligibility, please contact Glastonbury Financial Administration at FinancialAdministration@glastonbury-ct.gov before applying.

• May 14, 2024 and May 17, 2024 – Farmer workshops
• May 31, 2024 – Program launches | Application period begins.
• July 1, 2024 – Letter of Intent Submission Deadline
• July – November 2024 – Applications reviewed and award recipients selected (rolling basis)
• October 31, 2024 – Application window closes.
• December 2024 – All grant funds disbursed by Town of Glastonbury.

How to Apply

All farmers who plan to apply for the Farm Assistance Program must submit a letter of intent by no later than July 1, 2024. Letters of intent can simply state your full name, farm business name, and intent to apply for the Farm Assistance Grant program. For farmer convenience, template language is available below. If you do not submit a letter of intent by the deadline, you will not be considered for a grant award.

Please submit letters by no later than July 1, 2024 as follows:

• Email: Send to grants@Glastonbury-ct.gov and note “FAP Letter of Intent” in the subject line.
• Hand-delivered – You can drop-off your printed letter of intent at the Customer Service Center (CSC) Monday – Friday between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM or between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM. The CSC is located in the main entrance of Town Hall (2155 Main St).

Template language for letters of intent:

Dear Glastonbury Town Manager, 

This letter serves to document my intent to apply for the Farm Assistance Program on behalf of my farm business, ____________________.

Sincerely, 

Full Name
Business Name
Email Address
Phone Number

Please review the FAP Frequently Asked Questions document to familiarize yourself with the Farm Assistance Program requirements, eligibility, timeline, and application process.

The application and all required documentation noted below must be submitted as a complete package.

• Letter of Intent – Due July 1, 2024
• Farm Assistance Program Application – Complete and Signed
  • Town of Glastonbury Vendor Form (within application PDF)
  • W-9 - Complete and Signed (within application PDF)
• Receipts for all expenses for which you are seeking reimbursement. Expenses must have been incurred between January 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024.

Application packages should be hand delivered in hard-copy to the Glastonbury Customer Service Center during regular business hours. Please ensure that each document contains your farm business name. Documents that have multiple pages should be stapled together or individually labeled with your business name. Receipts must clearly indicate your business name as well as the type, cost, and transaction date for each expense.

The Customer Service Center (CSC) is located in the main entrance of Glastonbury Town Hall (2155 Main St.) and is open to accept application packages:

Monday – Friday (excluding national holidays)

8:00 AM – 1:00 PM    and      2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Applications will be accepted May 31, 2024 through October 31, 2024. Any submissions received outside of this period will not be considered. 

Outreach and Communications

Community Workshops

The Town hosted two informational workshops on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM and Friday, May 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM to review the proposed program with community farmers. These workshops included an overview of the DRAFT application, timeline, and documentation requirements. Presentations were followed by a question/comment segment to garner farmer feedback.

Both sessions were offered in a hybrid meeting format allowing interested parties to attend in-person or virtually by Zoom. The workshops were recorded for those who could not attend and the video recordings can be accessed through the following web links:

Workshop 1 - Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Workshop 2 - Friday, May 17, 2024

Program Contact

Questions about this program can be directed to Glastonbury Town staff at grants@glastonbury-ct.gov or Kathryn Paquette at (860) 652-7518.

Page last updated 5/31/2024