2027 TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUTH TO COUNTY AND LOCAL FAIRS PROGRAM

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the “Department”) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for the 2027 Transportation for Youth to New York State County and Local Fairs Competitive Grants Program (the “Program”). This Program will provide funding for transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs during the 2027 fair season.

A total of **$475,000** is available under this RFP. Applicants may apply for only one grant pursuant to this RFP. Applicants can apply for up to **$25,000**.

Eligible projects must involve organizing and providing transportation for youth to local and county fairs. Projects must focus on enhancing agricultural awareness and providing agricultural education to participants. Youth participants should be exposed to stories and experiences of local agriculture with the goal of expanding their knowledge of the agriculture industry in New York and making them aware that some of the best agriculture in the world is grown right here in New York State. Other project goals will be to encourage youth who may not be exposed to agriculture in their daily lives to explore agricultural education opportunities in their schools or communities and to consider a career in agriculture.

Eligible projects must involve a visit to one or more county and local fairs that can be found here: www.nyfairs.org/find-that-fair.

Funds can be used for transportation costs, the cost of entry to the fairs (if applicable), providing lunch to participants, developing and delivering agricultural educational programming to participants, and marketing activities that are directly related to this Program.

Proposed work plans should address how the project will increase agricultural awareness and education among participants. The applicant should also address who will be responsible for youth supervision while at the fair including plans for an adequate number of chaperones.

Final Report

A Final Report will be required within 60 days following completion of the project. The Final Report shall include a detailed description of the work completed; an assessment of the potential for future viability of the project; and a description of problems encountered, if any, which affected completion of the project.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED via the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System (SFS GM) to be considered for funding. [...] Proposals are due Tuesday, **December 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.** Late proposals will not be accepted. [...] Faxed, mailed or e-mailed proposals will NOT be accepted.

All not-for-profit applicants must be pre-qualified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) at the time the application is submitted for their application to be eligible for review. Municipalities are exempt from pre-qualification.

A total of 100 points are available based on the following scoring criteria: Project Description (20 points), Work Plan (20 points), Reasonableness of Cost (20 Points), Project Benefits (25 points), Organizational Capacity and Personnel (10 points), Outside Support (5 points). [...] All projects receiving average scores at or above 65 will be considered worthy of funding; all projects scoring below 65 will not be recommended for funding, regardless of funding availability.

Successful proposals will be awarded a contract with a term beginning February 15, 2027 and ending October 1, 2027.

Once the Contract is fully executed, grant funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. Awardees may request, at the discretion of the Department, an initial payment of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the total grant award. The Department shall retain ten percent (10%) of the award amount to be disbursed to the Contractor upon acceptance of the Final Report.