AUGUSTA — The Federal-State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP) is seeking applicants for a agricultural match grants.

The Federal-State Market Improvement Program (FSMIP) is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (MDACF). MDACF seeks sub-recipient applications for consideration in the State of Maine FSMIP proposal.

Proposal will be accepted by MDACF until 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 28.

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), recently requested applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2015 Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) to competitively award matching grants to eligible applicants for projects that explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. marketing system.

FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally.

FSMIP provides matching funds (A $1 for $1 match consisting of cash and/or in-kind non-Federal resources is required) and approximately $1 million is available nationwide to fund applications under this solicitation.

Eligibility: In accordance with authorizing legislation, FSMIP funds can be allotted by State Department of Agriculture, State Agricultural Experiment Stations and other appropriate State Agencies, including state universities and state colleges. State Agencies bear the primary responsibility for developing proposals and overseeing funded projects.

Proposals must be structured so that the State Agency maintains control of the project objectives, sets policy, and ensures that the project will be carried out in accordance with all applicable federal statutes and regulations as well as with the Grant Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of the Award. State Agencies are responsible for ensuring that sub-recipients maintain appropriate records and follow all the applicable Federal statutes and regulations as well as the Grant Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of the award.

Program Scope:

Eligible Agricultural Categories include: Poultry, Livestock, Dairy, Food, Feed & Fiber Crops, Fish & Shellfish, Horticulture, Viticulture, Apiary, Forest Products, Processed or Manufactured Products derived from above commodities. In recent years FSMIP has accepted proposals dealing with Nutraceuticals, Bioenergy, Compost, Agroforestry Products, Products made from agricultural residue.

Proposals may address topics dealing with any level of the marketing chain including direct, wholesale, and retail. Proposals must have a strong marketing focus, must involve research, and the primary beneficiaries must be agricultural producers and agribusiness. Proposals that involve training and education must include a research component that tests the effects of the program on the marketing goals.

Proposals may involve small, medium, or large scale agricultural entities but must benefit multiple producers or agribusinesses, whereas proposals that benefit one business or individual will not be considered. Proposals that address issues of importance at the State, multi-State, or national level are appropriate for FSMIP.

FSMIP will consider unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as a pilot projects or case studies useful as models for others. Such proposals must include an object to analyze opportunities and formulate recommendations with regard to how the project could be scaled or expanded to other regions.

FSMIP's enabling legislation authorizes projects to:

Determine the best methods for processing, preparing for marketing, packing, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and marketing agricultural products.

Determine the costs of marketing agricultural products in their various forms and through various channels.

Assist in the development of more efficient marketing methods, practices and facilities to bring about more efficient and orderly marketing, and reduce the price spread between the producer and the consumer.

Develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices.

Eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of agricultural produces in commercial channels.

Foster new/expanded domestic/foreign markets and new/expanded uses of agricultural products.

Collect and disseminate marketing information to anticipate and meet consumer requirements, maintain farm income, and balance production and utilization.

Priority Areas:

All proposals that fit within the FSMIP scope are encouraged. In addition, FSMIP encourages State agencies to submit proposals which:

Reflect a collaborative approach between the States, academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and stakeholders, in recognition of the synergies and improved outcomes that are attributable to such a collaboration and partnerships.

Assess challenges and develop methods or practices that could assist producers in marketing agricultural products that meet the mandates of the Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act 21 U.S.C. 2201.

Have the potential to create wealth and economic opportunity in rural communities through research and studies on issues relating to marketing in local and regional food systems, and value-added agriculture.

 Click here for complete guideline and submission requirements.

Deadline for submission to MDACF: Tuesday, April 28 by 2 p.m.

Proposals should be submitted according to the referenced submission guidelines and sent to MDACF via email to Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov.

Please call (207)287-3494 with questions.