FY27 MDAR GRANT- Cranberry Renovation + Enhancement Program

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is requesting responses for the FY27 Cranberry Renovation & Enhancement Program, a grant program providing funding to support improvements on cranberry operations in Massachusetts, with applications due August 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM.

Eligible applicants must be commercial cranberry operations engaged in production agriculture under M.G.L. c. 128, Section 1A, with projects located on property in active agricultural use under the applicant's ownership or control for at least three consecutive years. The program operates two funding tracks: renovation projects support full renovation of existing cranberry bogs at a maximum of $25,000 per acre up to $125,000 per application, while enhancement projects support targeted improvements increasing productivity, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship for up to 80 percent of total project costs not to exceed $50,000 per application. Applicants may apply for both project types for a combined maximum request of $175,000. All applicants must provide a minimum 20 percent match toward total project costs; renovation project matches may include approved in-kind contributions such as owner or employee labor, farm-owned equipment, and materials sourced from the operation, while enhancement project matches must be provided as cash.

Eligible expenditures are limited to durable equipment, systems, and related installation services directly supporting cranberry production. Ineligible items include value-added processing equipment, general-purpose heavy equipment, routine maintenance, consumables, and operational costs. Applicants must submit itemized budgets with one quote minimum for each budgeted expenditure; MDAR reserves the right to review, adjust, and remove ineligible, excessive, or unsupported costs.

Applications are submitted through the online portal at www.mass.gov/how-to/cranberry-renovation-enhancement-program. Award notifications are anticipated in October 2026, with estimated contract start in October 2026. All projects must be fully completed and invoiced by June 30, 2027, with no extensions granted. Applicants selected for funding may be subject to a field visit prior to final award determination. Evaluation criteria are applicant and operation capacity (15 percent), project need and justification (25 percent), feasibility and project implementation (15 percent), project impacts and outcomes (25 percent), and overall project value and funding priority (20 percent). Awards are subject to available funding appropriations under Commonwealth of Massachusetts standard contracting terms.