Texas AgrAbility does not provide grants, other funding, or equipment. However, there are several resources available that offer financial assistance for individuals with disabilities and in all stages of production agriculture. To learn more about these agencies, their services, and financial assistance they provide, check out the links below.
Disability/Rehabilitation Funding Assistance
Texas Workforce Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation assists individuals with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, retain or advance in employment. Many Texas AgrAbility clients utilize vocational rehabilitation for assistance with assistive technology and worksite/equipment modifications. Click here for more information and eligibility criteria or reach out to us for a referral.
US Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services help with job training, employment, accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other services may be provided to assist veterans in starting their own businesses or independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.
The Independence Fund assists severely wounded veterans and their caregivers. Through an application grant process, its mobility program provides personal mobility vehicles, such as off-road wheelchairs and adaptive bicycles. Other programs include the caregiver program, adaptive sports, and the advocacy program.
Agricultural Funding Assistance
Farmers.gov, USDA offers a variety of funding opportunities to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners finance their businesses. To find a USDA Farm loan that meets your needs, you can use the farm loan discovery tool here.
FSA (The Farm Service Agency) is a part of the USDA and has a longstanding tradition of helping farmers, ranchers, and other people in the agricultural industry through delivering effective and efficient programs across the nation. They specialize in explaining the Farm Bill by using fact sheets that help with application process, and they also encourage understanding and knowledge between farmers and communities. The FSA and its resources help with understanding other government agencies and keep farmers and the public informed of different agriculture-related topics and problems or challenges.
- FSA Farm Loan Programs make direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL) to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. Other loans include microloans, emergency loans, and loans to minority, women, veterans, and beginning farmers.
- FSA Conservation Reserve Program. In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.
Grants.gov is a website listing a partnership of federal agencies that directs grant seekers to over 1,000 programs offered across 26 federal grant-making agencies.
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education- Sustainable Agriculture Grants. Since 1988, SARE has funded more than 5,000 sustainable agriculture projects with grants for farmers, ranchers, Extension agents and educators, researchers, nonprofits, students, communities and others.
Transitions Incentives Program (TIP) Net. FSA has developed the TIP Net website to provide a tool to connect retired or retiring land owners or operators with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers who are interested in the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Loans guaranteed by the SBA range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Some loan programs set restrictions on how you can use the funds, so check with an SBA-approved lender when requesting a loan. Your lender can match you with the right loan for your business needs.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land.
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, or improved or created wildlife habitat.
USDA Rural Development operates over fifty financial assistance programs for a variety of rural applications. It offers loans and grants to support essential services such as housing, economic development, health care, first responder equipment and services, and help with rural America’s water, electric, and communication infrastructure. Fund recipients include individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and developers.
USDA Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.
USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”
USDA Value Added Producer Grants helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain.
beginningfarmers.org offers information on how to start a farm, planning a new farm, funding resources, and finding land to start your farm on. They cover all areas of farming from raising chickens and goats to mushroom production and urban farms to business farming. Internships and employment opportunities are posted regularly.
Farm Credit Services in Texas is a network of borrowers and lenders that offers loans, leases, and financial services to farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses and helps fund agriculturally related endeavors, insurance, and education.
Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. The Fellowship Fund does not give money directly to the veteran, but rather to third-party vendors for items the veteran has identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Texas Department of Agriculture‘s mission is to partner with all Texans to make Texas the nation’s leader in agriculture, fortify our economy, empower rural communities, promote healthy lifestyles, and cultivate winning strategies for rural, suburban and urban Texas through exceptional service and the common threads of agriculture in our daily lives.
Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (TxCDBG) assists small cities and rural communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanded economic opportunities principally for persons of low- to moderate-income. TxCDBG funds community projects such as utility infrastructure, disaster response, and unique local economic development projects.
Grants Office – responsible for administering numerous state and federal grants, loans and cooperative agreements available to farmers/ranchers, universities and schools, non-profits and private entities across the Lone Star State. The office also provides financial assistance to agricultural producers, especially young farmers and ranchers, to expand their production capabilities.
The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created by the Texas Department of Agriculture to provide relief. Texas farmers and ranchers in times of disaster using monetary donations from private individuals and organizations. STAR Fund is a reimbursement program designed to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief.