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Chairperson
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Sandra Lee Kunimoto
Contact Information
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Office of the Chairperson
1428 S. King Street
Honolulu HI 96814
Ph: 808 973-9560
Email:HDOA
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Federal Agencies Funding Sources

SELECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES FUNDING SOURCES

  • UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)-FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA): The farm Service Agency runs a multi-facet program that comprises farm credit programs and natural disaster related programs, the later subject to the US President or the Secretary of Agriculture designations as such.
  1. Agricultural Credit Programs: Available to ag-enterprises including nursery, orchard, vegetable, agro-forestry, aquaculture, and livestock. Direct Loans are limited to $200,000, and guaranteed loans through private institutions, $899,000.
  2. Commodity Loan programs: For wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, rye, oilseeds, rice, tobacco, peanuts, milk, cotton, sugar, and honey.
  3. Disaster and Emergency Payment Assistance: For rehabilitation of farms on a cost sharing basis for emergency conservation practices.
  4. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): Helps farmers to substitute crops grown on erosion prone farmland for permanent vegetative covers. In return the farmer receives an annual payment through a multi-year contract.
  5. Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Assists farmers and ranchers to return back to operation including clean up and restoration caused by a natural disaster.
  6. Environment Quality Incentive program (EQIP): Addresses locally identified natural resource concerns including soil erosion, water quality and quantity, and grazing land. Cost Sharing may reach 75% of certain conservation practices. Contractual agreement last 5 to 10 years. Contact:

Tel: Oahu—Aiea, (808) 483-8600, ext. 100
Maui—Kahului, (808) 244-3100
Hawaii—Hilo, (808) (808)-933-6963
Kauai—Lihue, (808) 245-9014
Guaranteed loans information (808) 541-2600, ext. 103

Additional information about the services provided by FSA may be found at:  http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=fsahome&subject=landing&topic=landing

  • NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION (NFF): The NFF has recently established the Community Assistance Program (CAP) to promote the creation of locally based forest partnerships. Visit http://www.natlforests.org and search on “grants” to read about successful partnerships. Funds may be used for a variety of needs including: basic start-up and operating costs, materials and equipment, technical assistance.

    Grant Connections. Visit http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/gchomepg.htm for more information about opportunities appropriate for university faculty as well as community groups. Updated monthly by the Southern Rural Development Center.
     
  • UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)-RURAL DEVELOPMENT: USDA Rural Development agency comprises three services: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), Rural Housing Service (RHS) and Rural Utilities Services (RUS). The field offices at the state and local levels administer the programs. Most relevant to rural agribusiness, is RBS which mission is to build competitive rural businesses and cooperatives. There is also (a) The USDA Rural Development’s Business & Industry (B&I) Loan program that had, so far, served aquaculture, nurseries, and forestry businesses, meat processing and distribution projects. (b) The Rural Development’s rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) funding had included agribusinesses project. (c) The Rural Development’s Intermediary Re-lending Program (subject to RD Instruction 4274-D) provides funding support also. Contact:

USDA, Rural Development
ATTN: RBS
Hawaii State Office Room 311, Federal Building
154 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: (808) 933-8302, Fax: (808) 933-8327

  • USDA COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE (CSREES) GRANT-Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE): The goal of this subtitle is to encourage the research and education designed to increase our knowledge concerning integrated systems of plant and animal production practices having both a site specific and regional application that will over the long-term improve food sources, the environment, efficient use of renewable resources, enhance economic and social wellness. Contact:

Western SARE Program
Agricultural Science Building, Room 305
Utah State University
4865 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322-4865
Tel:(435) 797-3537, Fax:(435) 797-3376
Email: wsare@mendel.edu

  • SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM (SBIR) GRANT: This program invites science-based small business firms to submit research proposal for funding. Topic areas include Forests and Related Resources, Plant Production and Protection, Animal Production and Protection, Air, Water and Soils, Food science and Nutrition, Rural and Community Development, Rural and Community Development, Aquaculture, Industrial Applications, and Marketing and Trade. Contact:

Dr. Charles F. Cleland
Director, SBIR Program
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
STOP 2243
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington D.C. 20250-2243
Tel: (202) 401-4002, Fax: (202) 401-6070

  • SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)’s HAWAII DISTRICT OFFICE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REFERRAL (FAR) PROGRAM: The Financial Assistance Referral Program allows participating banks’ officials to refer credit worthy entrepreneurs to SBA for assistance. An SBA Economic Development Specialist of the Business Information and Counseling Center (BICC) will help the business owner to prepare a viable and complete loan package. Still, the participating bank has to approve the SBA guaranteed loan. Contact:

SBA Economic Development Specialist
Hawaii District Office
300 Ala Moana, Room 2-235
Box 50207
Honolulu, HI 96850
Tel: (808) 541-2990