Grants to Farmers Markets
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nora Nolden, Communications Consultant
[email protected] or (651) 245-6804
Compeer Financial Opens Grants to Farmers Markets
Funding available to farmer vendors and farmers market organizations in IL, MN and WI
Sun Prairie, Wis., (October 14, 2020) – Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America, the Farm Credit cooperative’s giving program, has opened up grant opportunities for farmers market organizations and farmer vendors across the organization’s 144-county territory in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“Fresh and healthy food is a vital part of our local and regional food system,” said Karen Schieler. “Farmers markets contribute so much to our communities, providing farmers the opportunity to sell locally grown and produced foods direct to consumers. The Farmers Market Grants enhance the experience for rural and urban communities across the Compeer territory.”
Farmers market organizations looking to enhance services to consumers can apply for up to $1,000 in funding. Grants should be geared toward marketing efforts, technology advancements, vendor educational opportunities or research studies. This year, grants may also be used to contribute to market safety upgrades in the wake of COVID-19.
Farmer vendors may apply for grants of up to $500. These grants are designed to help farmers with marketing or technology advancements. This can include developing branding, website creation, or mobile payment technology products or fees, and other uses. Farmers must be a client of Compeer Financial.
Both grants are open until November 15, 2020. All applicants will be notified of their status 4 to 6 weeks after the application deadline.
In the past two years, the Compeer Financial Farmers Market Grant has been awarded to 69 organizations and 28 farmer vendors, for a total of more than $80,000.
For more information and to find an application, visit compeer.com/giving-back.
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of agricultural advocacy and development, agriculture education, cooperative initiatives, rural development and community enrichment; and youth engagement. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $23.4 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
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