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Big news for BIPOC farmers in Connecticut: The state has announced plans to be the first state in the nation to offer grants and technical assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (LCMA) Program.

DoAg, in partnership with UConn Extension, the Connecticut Farmland Trust, and American Farmland Trust,  announced an LCMA grant of $2.5 million over the next four years. With this federal grant, Connecticut becomes the first state to serve as a project lead in the program, which was formed through the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act.

The LCMA Program aims to address historical inequities in agriculture by providing financial and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers. This includes helping them purchase farmland, improve their business plans, and access new markets. By increasing access to land, capital, and markets, the program will empower these farmers to build sustainable and profitable agricultural enterprises.

Land, Capital, and Market Access Program Elements

The DoAg designed its LCMA program to consist of three elements:

1. Farm Business Navigator: Developed by UConn Extension, this new tool will help eligible farmers navigate and connect to technical assistance opportunities across the state.
2. Free Technical Assistance: Eligible farmers will be able to access resources for managing legal, tax, marketing, accounting, and other financial matters from an approved list of consultants being created by UConn and DoAg.
3. Grant Funding to Purchase Agricultural Land: Partners are using federal funds to establish the CT Farmland Access Fund to aid eligible partners in purchasing farmland. Additional information and application materials for this new funding opportunity will be announced in the spring of 2025.

For more information about the Land Capital Market Access Program, including details on eligibility, click here.

CLCC Report Catalyzes Action

The launch of the Land Capital Market Access Program is inspired in part by CLCC’s research and our findings in the Farmland Access & Ownership Report, released in partnership with DoAg earlier this year. 

This publication aimed to address challenges and opportunities for ensuring equitable access to secure farmland for BIPOC farmers, which comprise less than 2% of farmers statewide. Commissioned by the DoAg’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group, the report outlines nine strategic actions and key steps the state’s agricultural stakeholders (e.g., CT DoAg, farmers, land trusts, etc.) can undertake to ensure secure land tenure becomes a reality for BIPOC farmers. DoAg put these recommendations to use in applying for, and securing, this new LCMA grant. Download the Report

Photo Credit: Judy Anderson