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Get business planning support to improve your bottom line

PASA and Kitchen Table Consultants have partnered to offer farmers a limited-time opportunity to receive business strategy and planning support to grow sales, increase profits, diversify product lines, and/or position your farm business to raise capital through debt or equity.

To receive this support, farmers must apply to receive a Farm Vitality Planning Grant by June 30, 2020. Kitchen Table Consultants will guide farmers through the grant application process. Details below on how to apply.

What are the benefits of participating?

If you receive a grant, which are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, your farm will be paired with a consultant who will meet with you regularly via phone or video conferencing over the course of four months. During this time, you will be developing the following components of your business plan:

  • Assessment of your current business model and historical performance
  • Farm budget and strategic plan
  • Metrics to measure success
  • Methods for executing your business plan

Additionally, farms will work with PASA for in-depth benchmarking of your farm’s financial data. By participating in financial benchmarking, you will:

  • Standardize your farm’s chart of accounts in order to compare your data with 6+ peer farms
  • Receive a comprehensive financial benchmark report that shows your farm’s finances compared in detail with other peer farms
  • Receive insights from PASA’s datasets that can help you set achievable goals for scale, revenue, and profit margins
  • Connect with a learning community of farmers working to improve their business planning skills and business models
  • If you are a diversified vegetable farmer, you’ll also receive benchmarks for basic financial indicators compared to 40+ similar farms in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region that have participated in PASA’s Diversified Vegetable Financial Benchmark Study

BONUS! The first 25 farms to submit an application for a Farm Vitality Planning Grant in collaboration with Kitchen Table Consultants will receive a free year subscription to QuickBooks Online.

Additional information

  • Applicants are required to match 25 percent of their grant cost. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will reimburse up to an additional $7,500.
  • Farm Vitality Planning Grants are offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through the PA Farm Bill.

How do I apply?

Apply to participate here. After you apply, Kitchen Table Consultants will guide you through the process of submitting a Farm Vitality Planning Grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Grant applications must be submitted by June 30, 2020.

Grants are awarded to Pennsylvania farmers on a first come, first served basis—be sure to apply early!