Applications accepted until December 1, 2023. Application review will begin August 1st.
CISA is offering zero-interest loans of up to $25,000 for Massachusetts farms in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties affected by fluctuating winter temperatures that killed peach buds in February, the deep freeze of May 18, and widespread flooding in July. The Emergency Farm Fund (EFF) was established in 2011 in response to damage from Hurricane Irene suffered by farms in western Massachusetts.
The EFF is now accepting applications from eligible farms struggling to meet their immediate financial needs because of income, crop, or equipment loss due to these weather events. The goal of the fund, in partnership with the Franklin County CDC, is to respond to critical, time-sensitive needs by helping farms recover from their losses, continue farming, and/or build resilience for future extreme weather events.