CISA Emergency Farm Fund

The Emergency Farm Fund is now accepting rolling (no submission deadline) applications from eligible farms struggling to meet their immediate financial needs because of income and/or equipment loss due weather-related impacts.

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CISA is offering zero-interest loans of up to $5,000 for Massachusetts farms in Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties affected by climate change and weather-related events. The Emergency Farm Fund was established in 2011 in response to damages from Hurricane Irene suffered by farms in western Massachusetts.

The goal of the fund is to respond to critical, time-sensitive needs and help farms recover from their losses and continue farming.

Loan applications will be accepted from farms that:

• Have suffered financial losses of crops, buildings and/or equipment due to weather-related events
• Operate in Franklin, Hampshire, and/or Hampden counties in Massachusetts
• Demonstrate need and capacity to repay the loan (a perfect credit history is not required)
• Have gross annual sales for 2021 of approximately $20,000 or more.

If there are more applicants than funds available, priority will be given to farm businesses that:

• Experienced significant losses relative to business size;
• Demonstrate high potential to benefit from the loan;
• Are owned by one or more limited resource producers; and/or
• Have not received an Emergency Farm Fund loan in the past five years.

Loan Amount and Rate:
Loans are available at a 0% interest rate for up to $5,000; upon request, higher amounts may be considered.
Full repayment is expected within three years, with monthly payments beginning six months after loan closing; upon request, alternative repayment schedules may be considered.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information, please contact Stephen Taranto at CISA (stephen@buylocalfood.org or 413-665-7100, ext. 17) for help determining if an Emergency Farm Fund is the best option for your business.

Loan Application Review:
Loan applications are reviewed by CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund loan application review committee. Once approved, funds are disbursed after completion of a signed loan agreement and promissory note.

About CISA’s Emergency Farm Fund Loan Committee:
The Loan Review Committee includes members from CISA, the Franklin County CDC/Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund, Equity Trust, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and farmers.

Questions? Email stephen@buylocalfood.org or call 413-665-7100 ext. 17.