NYS Grown and Certified Research and Development Grant

The NYS Grown and Certified Research and Development Grant is administered by the New York Farm Viability Institute in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program is funded by New York State and is designed to strengthen the agricultural economy by supporting businesses that are already enrolled in the NYS Grown and Certified program. This initiative builds on the broader NYS Grown and Certified program, which was launched to assure consumers that products are locally produced and meet higher food safety and environmental standards. The grant specifically targets research and development activities that help bring new food products to market or expand the reach of existing ones. The primary purpose of the grant is to provide financial assistance for research and development services that enable farmers, processors, and distributors to commercialize or scale NYS Grown and Certified food products. Eligible uses of funds include consulting services, technical service providers, market research, product development, food laboratory testing, pilot runs, certification training, and other services directly tied to research and development. However, the grant does not fund capital expenditures such as equipment or buildings, nor does it cover routine operational costs or ingredient purchases. The focus remains on services that advance product development and market readiness. Applicants must be currently enrolled and in good standing in the NYS Grown and Certified program and must not have any outstanding tax liens. Eligible entities include farmers, food processors, distributors, cooperatives, and certain nonprofit organizations that are actively involved in producing or distributing certified products. Projects must be based in New York State and must demonstrate a clear connection to increasing production, improving food safety, or expanding distribution of NYS Grown and Certified products. Additionally, at least 51 percent of ingredients in processed products must meet program certification standards. The application process is conducted entirely online through the NYFVI grant management platform. Applicants are required to review technical requirements, identify their stage in the product development lifecycle, obtain service provider quotes, and complete a structured application that includes business information, project description, development stage, requested services, and a detailed budget. The application includes multiple sections such as business profile, project strategy, services and deliverables, and attestations. This grant operates on a non competitive, first come first served basis. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. If an application meets all technical and eligibility requirements, an award is offered without comparative scoring. Applicants are typically notified within six weeks of submission, and contracts are executed within ninety days of award notification. Funding ranges from 10000 to 50000 dollars per project, with a required 10 percent financial match that must be provided by the applicant through non state funds. The total funding pool for the program is 1360000 dollars. Projects must be completed within 18 months from contract execution, and reimbursement is provided only after completion of the project and submission of required documentation. The program emphasizes structured product development through defined stages including planning, pre production, and product launch. Applicants must identify their current stage and define the services needed to advance to commercialization. This staged approach ensures that funding is used strategically to move products closer to market readiness.

Ensure all technical requirements are met before submission align services with product development stage and confirm eligibility including NYS Grown and Certified enrollment