Acer Access and Development Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-AMS-TM-ACER-G-26-0007
- Agency
-
Agricultural Marketing Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $200,000 to $500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Agriculture
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- County Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- State Governments
- Special District Governments
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service is soliciting applications for the Acer Access and Development Program to fund initiatives promoting the domestic maple syrup industry, with applications due July 7, 2026. A mandatory 25% cost share from non-Federal sources (cash and/or in-kind contributions) is required.
Eligible applicants are States, Tribal governments, county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, and public higher education institutions located in the 50 States, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands.
Approximately $5.0 million in total funding supports approximately 10 awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 per award. Performance spans 36 months beginning approximately September 30, 2026 and ending September 29, 2029.
Applicants select one of two project types: Market Development and Promotion (MDP) or Producer and Landowner Education (PLE). Supported activities include promotion of research and education related to maple syrup production; promotion of natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry; market promotion for maple syrup and maple-sap products; and encouragement of owners and operators of privately held Acer-species lands to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities or voluntarily make land available, including by lease or other means, for public access to maple-sugaring activities.
Peer review scoring weights: Alignment and Intent (25 points), Technical Merit (25 points), Expertise and Partners (25 points), Achievability (15 points), and Fiscal Plan and Resources (10 points). Administrative review follows to assess risk management capability, geographic coverage, and program alignment.
CFDA 10.174. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time and require SF-424, SF-424A, Project Narrative (15 pages of applicant content plus template), Letters of Verification for Cost Share, Letters of Commitment from partners, and current NICRA if applicable. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration.
Synopsis
To support the efforts of States, Tribal governments, and research institutions to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the following activities: promotion of research and education related to maple syrup production, promotion of natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, market promotion for maple syrup and maple-sap products, Encouragement of owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer: to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities on the land; or to voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-sugaring activities.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 ACER NOFO Final compliant.pdf | ||
| 2026 ACER NOFO.pdf |
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