Grant Workshop Offered

Does your business need a little extra money to get just a few more things done? Writing a grant could help obtain those funds. In order to help agricultural businesses write their own grants, several local agencies have partnered together to host an Ag Grant Writing Workshop to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, September 16 at the Dixon Springs Ag Center in Simpson. The cost is $10, with advance registration required by September 12.

Writing a grant on your own could prove to be a difficult task. "Sometimes it has to do with being able to understand what the funds are targeted for and to be able to write a proposal so that it fits the guidelines. It's like applying for a job. You have to know what the employer is looking for," said Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, research specialist with the University of Illinois Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) and North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR SARE) coordinator for Illinois. "ASAP has offered grant writing workshops for several years to help people apply for grants. They have a need or an idea and we help them learn how to write an appropriate grant so they can get the funds."
This grant-writing workshop is ideal for farmers, ranchers, CSA Farm Operators, Agritourism and Value-Added Ag business owners. Information will be presented on the basics of grant writing and specifics on grants available through the NCR SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (AgriFIRST, Specialty Crop Grant Program and the C-2000 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program), Illinois Bureau of Tourism Marketing Partnership and Tourism Attraction Grant Programs, as well as resources that are available for small businesses.

During the last hour of the workshop, Cavanaugh-Grant will be available to provide assistance to individuals who are working on writing a grant, so participants are encouraged to bring along any rough drafts or other application materials.

This workshop is sponsored by the University of Illinois Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program, North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, Southernmost Illinois Agricultural Alliance, University of Illinois Extension, Shawnee Community College, Southeastern Illinois College, and the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau.

For more information, contact Stephanie Rhodes, Agritourism Development Coordinator for Shawnee Community College/Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau at 618-833-9928 or 618-634-3315, stephanier@shawneecc.edu