New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program

The New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program is administered by the Division of Travel and Tourism within the New Jersey Department of State in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The program was established pursuant to state legislation and is funded through an annual appropriation known as the Agritourism Fund. Its purpose is to strengthen the state’s agritourism sector by supporting businesses that integrate agricultural production with tourism experiences, thereby attracting visitors, generating revenue, and promoting agricultural education across New Jersey. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to agritourism businesses seeking to enhance their ability to attract, entertain, and educate visitors. Eligible projects must align with agritourism objectives such as agricultural education, entertainment, events, or marketing campaigns. Activities supported may include pick-your-own operations, farm tours, winery or brewery tastings, hayrides, agricultural exhibits, and similar experiences that engage the public. The program emphasizes projects that increase visitor engagement and economic viability while promoting New Jersey agricultural products. Funding for the program totals 5000000 dollars, with individual applicants eligible to request up to 100000 dollars. Applicants are required to provide documentation supporting all proposed expenses, such as contracts, vendor quotes, or pricing screenshots. While there is no formal matching requirement, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate additional financial investment where applicable. Projects must be completed within a 12-month period, with an earliest allowable start date of April 1, 2026, and a latest end date of April 1, 2027. Pre-award costs incurred on or after January 1, 2026 may be eligible for reimbursement subject to approval. Eligible applicants include a wide range of agricultural entities operating within the State of New Jersey. These include farms, ranches, on-farm wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other agricultural businesses that meet the definition of producing or sourcing agricultural products. Applicants must be physically located in New Jersey, and any proposed project activities must occur solely within the state. Additional requirements include maintaining appropriate insurance coverage and ensuring that proposed activities comply with any land use restrictions, particularly for preserved farmland. The application process requires submission of a completed application form along with all supporting documentation via email to the designated program inbox. Applications for the primary funding round were due by January 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Submissions received after this deadline are accepted on a rolling basis and considered subject to remaining funding availability. Applicants are encouraged to confirm receipt of their submission and may contact program staff if confirmation is not received within 24 hours. Applications are evaluated through a competitive review process conducted by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Evaluation criteria include the strength of the project narrative, its potential to attract visitors and generate revenue, and the feasibility and justification of the proposed budget. Projects are scored using a structured rubric, and those demonstrating strong alignment with program goals and clear economic impact are prioritized. Additional consideration is given to projects that promote New Jersey-sourced agricultural products. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact the program’s Grants Coordinator, William Conners, via email or phone. The program does not specify a fixed award notification timeline but indicates that decisions will follow the review of initial applications, with subsequent rolling decisions made as funding allows. The program appears to be recurring based on its annual appropriation structure, though future application cycles are contingent on continued funding.

Focus on demonstrating strong visitor attraction and revenue potential; provide detailed itemized budgets tied directly to project activities; emphasize New Jersey sourced products to gain bonus scoring