Two people and a dog in a greenhouse with plants

Brighter Future Fund

As part of the Great Lakes Farm Navigators project, an initiative led by American Farmland Trust and supported by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the Genesee Valley Conservancy can work with you to access grant programs, like the Brighter Future Fund. 

The Brighter Future Fund is currently accepting applications until April 30, 2025. This microgrant opportunity will provide farmers that are working with a Navigator up to $4,000 for eligible projects. 

Eligible Projects

Option 1:
Access, transfer or permanently protect farmland access, transfer or permanently protect farmland 

  • Hiring an attorney to develop a farm lease, provide legal representation for a farm transfer or purchase, develop an estate plan to support a farm transfer, or navigate heirs’ property issues. 

  • Hiring a business, financial or estate planning consultant to assist with a farm transfer plan, business plan, or finance/loan plan. 

  • Hiring a service provider to support business planning and other services necessary for farmland access or expansion such as land search planning, property assessment, facilitation, succession planning, or crafting agreements. 

  • Paying transaction costs associated with securing land to farm. These may include costs associated with purchasing a farm, negotiating a lease agreement, or developing an agricultural conservation easement (e.g., survey, appraisal, etc.). 

Grant Application

Option 2:
Adopt regenerative farming practices and increase resilience of farmland in the Great Lakes watershed 

  • Paying capital costs associated with improving soil health and enhancing land for farm production. Examples include irrigation, fencing, or soil improvements. 

  • Purchasing farm equipment or implements that would allow farmers to improve soil health. 

  • Replacing infrastructure or equipment lost or compromised from natural disasters. 

  • Purchasing cover crop seed 

  • Expanding or implementing practices identified from the Natural Resource Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standards 

For more information about the Brighter Future Fund, here you can find the complete PDF of the grant guidelines.  

To apply, you must work with a Great Lakes Farm Navigator. The process is simple: 

  1. Email Taylor at farmland@geneseevalleyconservancy.org to explain your interest and potential project. 

  2. Complete the grant application questions with support from Genesee Valley Conservancy. 

  3. Create a SurveyMonkey apply account and submit your application at https://aft.smapply.io/prog/great_lakes_protection_fund_/.