Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 18 0006
The Acer Access and Development Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Its core purpose is to strengthen and grow the domestic maple syrup industry by funding projects that expand knowledge, improve production practices, protect the resource base that maple production depends on, and increase market demand for maple products. The program is designed to support coordinated, practical efforts that help maple producers, landowners, and the broader maple sector remain economically viable while keeping maple forests healthy and productive over the long term.
Funded projects are expected to fall into several major activity areas. One focus is research and education tied to maple syrup production, which can include applied studies, demonstrations, technical guidance, and producer training aimed at improving yields, quality, efficiency, and food safety practices. Another priority is natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, meaning projects that promote responsible forest stewardship and long-term ecosystem health in sugarbush management, tapping practices, and land use planning. The program also supports market promotion for maple syrup and maple sap products, which can involve consumer education, market development strategies, promotional campaigns, and efforts to strengthen distribution or increase product visibility. A distinctive element of this program is its emphasis on access and development: it encourages owners and operators of privately held land with Acer species (maple trees) to start or expand maple-sugaring operations, or to voluntarily make their land available to others for maple-sugaring, including through leases or other access arrangements that open opportunities for public participation or producer expansion.
Eligibility is limited to governmental and research-oriented entities rather than individual businesses. Applicants may include state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and research institutions (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement). In practice, this structure signals that AMS is looking for projects with broad, industry-wide benefit, often involving partnerships, statewide or regional impact, and results that can be shared across the maple community rather than benefits confined to a single private operation.
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant under CFDA number 10.174. The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS TM ACER G 18 0006. For the referenced round, the announcement was created on April 24, 2018, with an original application closing date of June 8, 2018. Awards were expected to be made competitively, with up to 12 awards anticipated. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was listed as $500,000 per award, indicating the program can support substantial projects such as multi-partner research and outreach efforts, statewide market development initiatives, or coordinated programs that expand maple-sugaring access on private lands.
Overall, this grant opportunity targets the full pipeline of maple sector development: improving and sharing production knowledge, safeguarding the natural forest resource that makes maple possible, building stronger markets for maple syrup and related products, and lowering barriers to entry or expansion by encouraging private landowners to enable more maple-sugaring activity through direct participation or access agreements. The announcement also indicates it contains the specific eligibility rules for projects and applicants, along with the required application forms and instructions needed to apply for an award.Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 18 0006
- The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Acer Access and Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.174.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 08, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Acer Access and Development Program (USDA AMS)
What is the Acer Access and Development Program?
The Acer Access and Development Program is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). It funds projects intended to strengthen and grow the domestic maple syrup industry.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The core purpose is to strengthen the domestic maple syrup sector by funding projects that expand knowledge, improve production practices, protect the resource base (maple forests and related ecosystems), and increase market demand for maple products. The program emphasizes practical, coordinated efforts that support economic viability while keeping maple forests healthy over the long term.
What kinds of projects does the program fund?
Funded projects are expected to align with major activity areas described in the announcement, including research and education for maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and market promotion for maple syrup and maple sap products. The program also has a distinctive emphasis on improving access to maple-sugaring opportunities on private lands with Acer species.
What does "research and education tied to maple syrup production" include?
This activity area can include applied studies, demonstrations, technical guidance, and producer training. The intent is to improve yields, product quality, efficiency, and food safety practices in maple syrup production.
What does "natural resource sustainability" mean in the context of maple syrup?
Natural resource sustainability refers to projects that promote responsible forest stewardship and long-term ecosystem health. Examples described at a high level include improving sugarbush management, tapping practices, and land use planning to support long-term productivity and healthy maple forests.
What types of market promotion activities are supported?
The program supports market promotion for maple syrup and maple sap products. This can include consumer education, market development strategies, promotional campaigns, and efforts that strengthen distribution or increase product visibility.
What is the "access and development" emphasis of this program?
A distinctive element is encouraging owners and operators of privately held land with Acer species (maple trees) to start or expand maple-sugaring operations, or to voluntarily make their land available to others for maple-sugaring. This can include leases or other access arrangements intended to open opportunities for public participation or producer expansion.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to governmental and research-oriented entities rather than individual businesses. Eligible applicants may include state governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and research institutions (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement).
Are individual maple producers or private businesses eligible to apply directly?
Based on the provided information, the program is structured for governmental and research-oriented entities, not individual businesses. In practice, this indicates projects are expected to deliver broad, industry-wide benefits rather than benefits limited to a single private operation.
What kind of impact is USDA AMS looking for in funded projects?
The program signals a preference for projects with broad benefit, such as partnerships, statewide or regional impact, and outcomes that can be shared across the maple community. The goal is to support coordinated efforts that help producers, landowners, and the broader sector remain economically viable while maintaining healthy maple forests.
Which USDA agency administers this grant?
The grant is administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Is this a competitive grant or a formula grant?
This is a competitive (discretionary) grant opportunity, meaning awards are expected to be made through a competitive selection process.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 10.174.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS TM ACER G 18 0006.
When was the referenced announcement created?
For the referenced round, the announcement was created on April 24, 2018.
What was the original application closing date for the referenced round?
The original application closing date listed was June 8, 2018.
How many awards were anticipated?
Up to 12 awards were anticipated for the referenced round.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was listed as $500,000 per award.
What kinds of projects might fit a $500,000 award ceiling?
The ceiling suggests support for substantial efforts such as multi-partner research and outreach, statewide market development initiatives, or coordinated programs that expand maple-sugaring access on private lands.
What industries or products are the focus of this program?
The program focuses on the domestic maple syrup industry and related maple products, including maple sap products, with an emphasis on production improvement, sustainability, and market demand growth.
Does the program address forest health and long-term productivity?
Yes. A central theme is protecting the resource base that maple production depends on by promoting responsible stewardship and long-term ecosystem health in maple-producing forests.
Does the program support new or expanded maple-sugaring operations on private land?
Yes. The program encourages landowners and operators of privately held land with Acer species to start or expand maple-sugaring operations, and it also encourages landowners to make their land available to others through access arrangements such as leases.
Does the program require specific application forms and instructions?
The announcement indicates it contains the specific eligibility rules for projects and applicants, as well as the required application forms and instructions needed to apply for an award.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility rules and application requirements?
The detailed eligibility rules, required forms, and application instructions are referenced as being contained in the full program announcement for this opportunity.
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