Big Island Can Apply for $5,000 Food Security Micro-Grants by Feb. 19

Big Island residents have an opportunity to secure $5,000 micro-grants to expand small-scale gardening, herding, apiaries and other local food projects, with applications due by noon on Feb. 19. The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is accepting submissions in the program’s fifth year, aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food-insecure communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved $2,235,220 in funding for this year’s program under the 2018 Farm Bill. Individual applicants, including backyard farmers, may apply for $5,000 each. Applicants must be Hawai‘i residents, at least 18 years old and head of household. Previous awardees are not eligible for this round.

Selection will be based on the project description, the number of beneficiaries and anticipated production. Examples of eligible activities include purchasing tools, soil, seeds, plants, canning equipment, refrigeration, compost and systems for hydroponic or aeroponic farming. Small-scale herding and livestock projects may seek funds for animals and for buying, erecting or repairing fencing. Apiary projects may request support for bees, bee boxes, education and efforts to expand food markets. Organizations registered to do business in Hawai‘i, including Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits and federally funded educational facilities, may apply for $10,000 awards; those organizations will need to provide matching funds of at least 10 percent of the award, with matching funds not permitted to come from other federal sources.

Past projects funded by the program have included fencing to protect crops from axis deer, purchasing seeds and tree crops, building garden infrastructure and irrigation systems, constructing shade houses, installing aquaponic and hydroponic systems, and erecting poultry coops. For small farms and homesteads across the moku, such investments can mean stronger harvests, better shelf life for produce and reduced losses to pests and weather.

Applications for individuals are available through the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s Market Development Branch website, and the Request for Proposals for organizations is posted on the State Procurement Office site. For assistance with the application process, call 808-973-9594 or email dab.md.microgrants@hawaii.gov.

This micro-grant program plugs federal support into grassroots efforts to grow more food locally, reinforcing community resilience and stewardship of the ʻāina. For farmers, kula gardeners and backyard growers looking to expand capacity or shore up defenses against pests like axis deer, the Feb. 19 deadline is the next practical step toward planting seeds of local food security.