Carrot Project Small & Beginning Farmer Loan Update

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The Maine Farm Business Loan Fund 

The Carrot Project is pleased to announce a collaboration with Coastal Enterprises, Inc., The Maine Farm Business Loan Fund is for small and midsized farms using sustainable or organic practices and serving markets within Maine or in nearby states. Funds can be used for working capital or capital needs for production or value-added enterprises. On-farm, value-added enterprises will be given preference. Loans will be for amounts up to $35,000 and for terms of 1–5 years. Learn more.

Strolling of the Heifers Microloan Fund Expanded to Eastern Massachusetts

In partnership with MassDevelopment, we have launched the MassDevelopment/Strolling of the Heifers Small Farm Loan Fund.This expansion allows us to offer the microloan fund to all farmers in Massachusetts. MassDevelopment will provide loans secured by  donations from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and proceeds from a 5% Day from the Whole Foods Markets in Cambridge. Thank you to our Boston-area volunteers for your help with the 5% Day and to our other valued supporters of this work.  Learn more.

Brown Bag Conference Call: Small Farms in a Changing Credit Landscape

John Moukad, an expert in community development finance and now a member of The Carrot Project Advisory Board, recently completed a report describing the changes in the credit market in recent years, and how these changes have negatively impacted small farmers. It also describes the capacity of small farmers as borrowers and makes recommendations. The Carrot Project will host a Brown Bag Conference to discuss the report on Friday, May 14th at 12:15 pm. If you would like to participate, please register or learn more under Reports on our program page.

The Carrot Project Works Because of You

The Carrot Project works collaboratively to help close financing gaps for small and midsized farms. Our work would be impossible without our partners — donors, investors, lenders, other non-profit organizations, and volunteers. If you haven’t  already, please consider joining this group of dedicated people who make our work possible, by making a tax-deductible donation. Thank you! Make a donation.