Department of Agriculture
Ken Givens, Commissioner

1. Promotion and Advertising, including but not limited to:
   1. Print Media
   2. Radio
   3. Television
   4. Advertising requests must merit the size of the community serviced
   5. Advertising projects must interface with TDA campaigns (i.e., include Pick TN Products logo and/or Web site)
2. Public Use Considerations, including, but not limited to:
   1. Central heat and air
   2. Concession areas
   3. Handicap Accessibility
   4. Lighting
   5. Parking Areas
   6. Restroom Facilities
3. Marketing, including but not limited to:
   1. Brochures
   2. Direct Promotions
   3. Maps
   4. Signs & Posters
   5. Web site Development
   6. Educational Scholarships (up to $200) for market managers, staff &/or vendors to attend the Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Farmers Market Association. Eligible costs include mileage, meals, registration fees & lodging per state's travel regulations.
4. Retail Considerations, including but not limited to:
   1. Counters
   2. Loading Dock
   3. Refrigeration equipment (i.e., fruit & vegetable cooling equipment)
   4. Utility Sinks for fruit & Vegetable sale preparation
   5. Shelters
   6. Permanent Display Tables & Shelving for sales floor
   7. Shopping Carts
   8. Tables
5. Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:
   1. Administrative and Overhead Costs
   2. General Office Equipment (computers, copiers, scanners, etc.)
   3. Community Festivals and Other Special Events held on-site
   4. Commercial or Demonstration Kitchens
   5. Give-a-way items or Merchandising items
   6. Motorized Vehicles (golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, etc.)
   7. Paying off existing debt
   8. Purchase of property
   9. Travel & other travel expenses related to the day-to-day operation of the organization (with the exception of Tennessee Farmers Market Association Annual Meeting Scholarship)
   10. Salaries, Wages, & Fringe Benefits of employees

1. Complete & submit Application by the postmark deadline.
2. The application will be evaluated & ranked by a staff committee of TDA & the applicant will be notified of their approval or disapproval for grant assistance. Only projects that are approved in advance by TDA will be available for grant assistance. Approved projects must be completed & invoices submitted by the deadline.

Only applications that are complete & contain sufficient information will be considered for evaluation. Important considerations will be the overall soundness of the proposed activity's goals, objectives, local commitment, project management & work plan. As part of the evaluation process, a meeting with the applicant and/or a visit to the applicant's enterprise may be required. Priority will be given to projects that:

1. Describe your organization
   1. Year established
   2. Management overview (dedicated manager or management team, farmers' advisory committee or board of directors with significant Tennessee farmer participation)
   3. Organizational goals
   4. Describe how your market is promoted (advertising, events, outreach, Web site)
2. Have you applied for funding through TDA previously?
   1. Program name: TAEP or TN Ag Development Fund (Ag Tag)
   2. Fiscal year
   3. Brief description of project
   4. Amount approved
   5. Amount paid
   6. Results of past project(s)
3. Describe your proposed project(s)
   1. List each proposed project individually
   2. Indicate how the project(s) will benefit your market's vendors & help increase their farm income.
4. Outline the steps & time frame for completing your proposed project. *Projects & reimbursement paperwork must be completed by May 1, 2010.
5. Provide a detailed, line-item budget for each proposed activity. Indicate which items will be involved in grant funding. Maximum amount of request is $2,500.

1. Consider each funding request on a case by case basis
2. Reject any or all requests
3. Provide partial funding for specific activity components that may be less than the full amount requested
4. Provide funding contingent on receiving additional information or testimony from the applicant
5. Waive or modify minor irregularities in requests
6. Require the applicant to work with TDA to complete all aspects of the application and reporting requirements

1. A Grant Contract will be issued by TDA for each approved application. Funding is not considered approved until the applicant receives an approval letter & a fully executed copy of this signed contract. The Grantee will be required to submit various information including Substitute W-9 (tax identification) & ACH (Automated Clearing House for direct deposit) forms.
2. Any changes to the executed contract, including changes to the approved budget, must be submitted in advance & in writing by TDA.
3. The staff of TDA will monitor & evaluate each funded activity. TDA reserves the right to make site visits relating to the performance of the activity during & following completion.

Following TDA review of the materials submitted, & if no additional information or site visits are required, the Department will process payment to the applicant.

Please direct any questions concerning this program to:

Laura Fortune, Marketing Specialist, Farmers Market Program
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Attn: Farmers Market Grant Program
P.O. Box 40627, Holeman Building, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 837-5346, Laura.Fortune@Tn.gov, PickTnProducts.org