Hawaiʻi Grown Partnership for Agriculture to Supply $18.5 Million to Hawaiʻi Farmers, Preliminary Applications Open Through July 15th
Big news for Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers, and forest managers: a new round of USDA funding is open, and pre-screening applications are being accepted now through July 15th.
The former Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities award has transitioned into USDA’s new Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program, administered in Hawaiʻi through the Hawaiʻi-Grown Partnership for Agriculture. Through it, USDA has set aside $18.5 million to help Hawaiʻi producers improve their farming practices and market what they grow.
Check out the website here: https://hawaiigrownpartnership.org/
See the full request for applications here —> HiGPA RFA
What This Grant Does
Two tracks that work together:
– Conservation — funding to put approved practices on the ground: nutrient management, mulching, tree planting, fencing, and more.
– Marketing — funding to promote and sell what you grow.
Note: to receive marketing money, you must also be implementing conservation practices within this grant. Exceptions to this rule are made for producers previously enrolled under the Climate-Smart Commodities grant.
You Are Eligible To Apply If
– You farm in Hawaiʻi (all main islands eligible) and sell, or plan to sell, at least one crop or commodity.
• Orchard / tree crops (ʻulu, coffee, banana, papaya): 4-acre minimum
• Vegetables and floriculture: 1-acre minimum
– You have registered, or will register, with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
– You’re willing to implement at least one approved conservation practice.
– Already enrolled in Climate-Smart Commodities? You’re eligible for marketing incentives this round under expedited review (but not new conservation funding).
Funding Tiers
You choose one conservation tier and/or one marketing tier. All amounts are per producer.
Conservation
– Pool 1: $10,000–$500,000. No funding match required. ~45 awards.
– Pool 2: up to $875,000. 20% match required. ~5 awards. Intended for larger operations.
Marketing (no match required)
– Tier 1 / Startup: up to $15,000. Branding, farmers-market materials, packaging.
– Tier 2 / Growth: up to $50,000. Website, food safety, interisland shipping, wholesale setup.
– Tier 3 / Expansion: up to $75,000. Post-harvest equipment, statewide distribution, national export.
What You Commit To
– After an environmental review and NRCS approval, implement your approved conservation practices.
– Use marketing funds to promote and sell what you grow.
– Keep receipts for all conservation and marketing expenses, and share basic farm and sales data about twice a year.
– Site visits from the grant project team at least once per year to verify your conservation practices.
Key Dates
– Now–July 15 — Register your farm with FSA if you haven’t. You need USDA farm records before you can apply, so don’t wait.
– June 15 — The first-round pre-screening eligibility form is open now. Start your application here
– June 26 — Full applications open on the HiGPA website.
– July 15 — Pre-screening eligibility form due.
– July 31 — First-round full application deadline.
– No earlier than Mid-August — Applicants notified.
– End of 2026 — Contracts signed; up to 75% of your award paid upfront.
– Jan 2027 — 2nd round of applications opens on a rolling basis, dependent on availability of funds.
– Spring 2028 — 1st round projects complete; final 25% paid.
Help At Every Step
The ʻUlu Co-op has staff dedicated to answering your questions through the whole process. Reach out to Ryan at farmers@eatbreadfruit.com any time for assistance with your application.
The one thing to do today: if your farm isn’t registered with FSA yet, start that now, you can’t apply without it.
Producers may sign the AMP HiGPA FSA waiver to allow their selected partner organization to work with FSA on their behalf or reach out to the FSA field offices directly, using the following contact information:
– Hawaiʻi County – Debby Ann Itchon DebbyAnn.Itchon@usda.gov
– Honolulu & Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi) – Herrietta “Etta” Molesi Herrietta.Molesi@usda.gov
– Kauaʻi County – Calvin Threat Calvin.Threat@usda.gov
