1. Deirdre Birmingham Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (608) 219-4279 deirdreb@mindspring.com

2. Grants Advising Service: What is offered? Connecting growers to resource people and information Assistance identifying loan programs for capital expense needs FSA loans Other sources of loans Help with applying to grant and cost-share programs of state or federal government. Identification of appropriate grant program Help with outlining a plan of work Identification of local partners to strengthen your project Assistance in preparing grant proposal

3. Grants Advising Service: Who is eligible? Individual producers who are members of historically socially disadvantaged groups* Associations of farmers who have never received a federal grant or cost- share before. Assistance for nonprofit organizations working with socially disadvantaged farmers or disadvantaged youth on food related businesses or projects. * For purposes of this project, MFAI uses the USDA Risk Management Agency’s definition: “A socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmer, rancher, or agricultural producer is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as a member of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities. SDA groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.”

4. For more information, contact: Deirdre Birmingham Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (608) 219-4279 deirdreb@mindspring.com