The Illinois Department of Agriculture recently announced it has received specialty crop block grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. $175,450.42 of those grant funds will be used to fund the Illinois Farmers' Market Advertising Grant Program.

Through this new program all Illinois farmers' markets can apply for grant funds to help off-set the cost of advertising the market for the 2008 farmers' market season. The maximum allowable grant is $7,500. All grant funds must be spent by October 31, 2008.

Kane County Farm Bureau, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, will host a GRANT PROGRAM WORKSHOP

Friday, October 19–1:00 p.m.

Kane County Farm Bureau

2N710 Randall Road

St. Charles

Kim Janssen of the Illinois Department of Agriculture will present a workshop designed to help Farmers Market operators develop proposals and carry out administrative and procedural requirements involved in applying for Farmers' Market advertising projects. The workshop will cover:

Program Scope

Eligible Specialty Crops

Matching Requirements

Application Procedures and Requirements

Announcement of Grant Awards

Restrictions and Limitations on Program Activities and Expenditures

Post-Award Management of AgriFIRST Grants

Reporting Requirements for Awarded Projects – Progress and Final Reports

Record Retention for Awarded Grant Projects

Reservations are requested for this Workshop by Friday, October 12

Call (630) 584-8660 for more info or to reserve your space today!

Grant Application Deadline: November 7th, 2007 - 5:00 p.m.