By: Linda Norris Waldt
Funding for major compost infrastructure development is at last included in a large federal funding bill, The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.
The US Department of Agriculture has confirmed that compost is eligible for a $500M program aimed at projects that would increase competition and provide farmers more alternatives to conventional fertilizer, such as more climate-friendly projects. Compost and biochar are in the definition of nutrient alternatives. Winning grant proposals can use the funding for equipment, land, facility construction; modernization/expansion; workforce recruitment; labeling/compliance costs, among other things.
This is something USCC has been working towards for years, with our participation in the formation of the Compost Infrastructure Coalition, in which we have worked with several Congressional offices to draft the Compost Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, along with numerous meetings with USDA and EPA staff to beat the drum about the importance of compost to jobs, economic development, climate goals and ecosystem benefits. YOU have helped us with your advocacy through the Compost Action Center. Nearly 2,000 email contacts have been made with congressional offices, NRCS (part of USDA) staff and EPA staff by YOU, the advocates of compost!
Now, regarding the grant program. We are urging anyone thinking of applying for these funds to quickly go through the registration on the SAM Portal, which can take a week or more, as well as complete the USDA’s pre-screening tool to make sure you are eligible for the grant money. Then, pull together your partners and put on your thinking caps. As members, USCC is willing to provide letters of support for your project proposals.
Our assessment of the program tells us that these are target project types for funding:
There’s a lot more to know about this program. Find the USDA site HERE and USCC’s information page HERE.