Funding Assistance

AgrAbility does not provide grants, other funding, or equipment. However, the sources listed below may be of assistance.

Rehabilitation Funding Assistance from Government Sources

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Medicare is a health insurance program for: people age 65 or older; people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and; people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant). top
  • Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements.  The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government. top


Social Security Administration (SSA) offers several programs to help provide income to people with disabilities.

  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. top
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues and not Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income benefits are based on financial need. top
  • Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a Social Security Income work incentive that lets you set aside resources to help you reach your work goals while still receiving SSI. For example, you could set aside money to go to school to get specialized training for a job or to start a business. The objective of the PASS is to help disabled individuals find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or SSDI benefits. top


State Vocational Rehabilitation Systems (VR) are the most significant providers of assistive technology, home modifications, and related services for AgrAbility clients. Charged with the mission of assisting people with disabilities in gaining or maintaining employment, VR has significant latitude in the services it can provide, though policies vary between states. State VR Agency List  top

State Worker’s Compensation Programs. Individuals injured on the job while employed by private companies or state and local government agencies should contact their State Worker’s Compensation Board. top

US Department of Veterans Affairs. Disability compensation is a tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service-members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. top
  • Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents. For veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or a specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg. For spouses and surviving spouses, this benefit is commonly referred to as aid and attendance and is paid based on the need of aid and attendance by another person. top

  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services help with job training, employment, accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other services may be provided to assist veterans in starting their own businesses or independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment. top

Rehabilitation Funding Assistance from Nongovernmental Organizations

ATAP- Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs. Statewide Assistive Technology Programs are federally-funded programs in almost every U.S. state. These programs offer: information about what devices and services are available and where to obtain them; device loan and demonstration, and in some states, borrowing programs to “try out” devices; and device exchange and recycling programs that provide individuals with used equipment at little to no cost. Many of these Statewide Assistive Technology Programs are also Alternative Financing Programs (AFP) under the federal Assistive Technology Act, meaning that they can provide loans for purchasing or acquiring assistive technology. top

Centers for Independent Living- ILRU Directory of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Associations.  CILs provide core services to assist people with disabilities. Some centers offer assistive technology funding strategies in their state. top

Easterseals. Some state Easterseals affiliates offer low-interest loans for assistive technology and may assist with the purchase of some types of aids. To check your state programs find Affiliate Locations Here. top

The Hearing Industries Association publishes Your Guide to Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids, which addresses hearing aid issues for both adults and children.

The Independence Fund assists severely wounded veterans and their caregivers. Through an application grant process, its mobility program provides personal mobility vehicles, such as off-road wheelchairs and adaptive bicycles. Other programs include the caregiver program, adaptive sports, and the advocacy program. top

Lions Clubs. Each club is unique in how it serves. A Lions club in or near your community may sponsor a  program that provides assistance for the purchase of eyeglasses, hearing aids, health-related services, scholarships or educational needs. top

Muscular Dystrophy Association – Equipment Assistance Program. As neuromuscular diseases progress, MDA Care Center team members are prepared to recommend and prescribe various types of medical equipment that can increase independence and quality of life. When such equipment is needed, MDA offers assistance in locating prescribed items through its national equipment program and referrals to community resources. top

National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Assistance for Adaptive Equipment. This web resource addresses (1) costs, insurance and taxes, (2) used equipment, and (3) resources. top

United Cerebral Palsy: The UCP Elsie S. Bellows Fund helps provide AT equipment to individuals with disabilities. This program is available only through UCP affiliates. Please contact your local UCP for information on how to apply. List of UCP Affiliates. top

Agricultural Funding Assistance from Government Sources

Farmers.gov, a customer experience portal from USDA, helps better connect America’s farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and private foresters with vital USDA resources and programs. Main sections of the website include: Fund, Manage, Conserve, Recover, and Connect. Funding topics include getting started, finding land, funding an agricultural business, securing funding for land and equipment, and financing conservation projects. There is also a feature for finding your local USDA service center. top

FSA (The Farm Service Agency) is a part of the USDA and has a longstanding tradition of helping farmers, ranchers, and other people in the agricultural industry through delivering effective and efficient programs across the nation. They specialize in explaining the Farm Bill by using fact sheets that help with application process, and they also encourage understanding and knowledge between farmers and communities. The FSA and its resources help with understanding other government agencies and keep farmers and the public informed of different agriculture-related topics and problems or challenges. top

  • FSA Farm Loan Programs make direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loans (OL) to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements. Other loans include microloans, emergency loans, and loans to minority, women, veterans, and beginning farmers. top
  • FSA Conservation Reserve Program. In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. top


Grants.gov is a website listing a partnership of federal agencies that directs grant seekers to over 1,000 programs offered across 26 federal grant-making agencies. top

National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs. Several states operate special loan programs for beginning farmers and ranchers. One of the most common types of beginning farmers programs are called Aggie Bond programs. Through these programs, states can assist beginning, first-time farmers to purchase land, farm equipment, farm buildings and breeding livestock through reduced interest rate loans. top

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education- Sustainable Agriculture Grants. Since 1988, SARE has funded more than 5,000 sustainable agriculture projects with grants for farmers, ranchers, Extension agents and educators, researchers, nonprofits, students, communities and others. top

Transitions Incentives Program (TIP) Net. FSA has developed the TIP Net website to provide a tool to connect retired or retiring land owners or operators with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers who are interested in the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). top

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Loans guaranteed by the SBA range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Some loan programs set restrictions on how you can use the funds, so check with an SBA-approved lender when requesting a loan. Your lender can match you with the right loan for your business needs. top

USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program is to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets by developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement, and expansion of, domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. top

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.  Through these programs the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. top

  • Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) helps agricultural producers use conservation to manage risk and solve natural resource issues through natural resources conservation. NRCS administers the AMA conservation provisions while the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Risk Management Agency implement other provisions under AMA. top
  • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment. top
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, or improved or created wildlife habitat. top
  • Water Bank Program (WBP) preserves and improves major wetlands for the benefit of migratory wildlife such as waterfowl, conserves surface waters, reduces soil and wind erosion and contributes to flood control. WBP is only available in Minnesota, North and South Dakota. top


USDA Rural Development operates over fifty financial assistance programs for a variety of rural applications. It offers loans and grants to support essential services such as housing, economic development, health care, first responder equipment and services, and help with rural America’s water, electric, and communication infrastructure. Fund recipients include individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and developers. top

USDA Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. top

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” top

USDA Value Added Producer Grants helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. top

Agricultural Funding Assistance from Nongovernmental Organizations

Agricultural Reinvestment Fund assists farmers and rural communities in North Carolina with developing new sources of agricultural income through the provision of cost-share grants. The program awards at least 25 grants per year of up to $8,000 to individual farmers or $10,000 for collaborative projects. top

beginningfarmers.org offers information on how to start a farm, planning a new farm, funding resources, and finding land to start your farm on. They cover all areas of farming from raising chickens and goats to mushroom production and urban farms to business farming. Internships and employment opportunities are posted regularly. top

Carrot Project facilitates access to financing and business support in New England and the Hudson Valley so that today’s small farm and food businesses can grow into thriving, enduring enterprises. It makes long-term investments in the building blocks of the food system that contribute to healthful food for consumers, a replenished environment, and strengthened regional and local economies. top

Farm Credit Services is a nationwide network of borrowers and lenders that offers loans, leases, and financial services to farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses and helps fund agriculturally related endeavors, insurance, and education. top

Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund  is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. The Fellowship Fund does not give money directly to the veteran, but rather to third-party vendors for items the veteran has identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. top

Farmlink. Several states have Farmlink (or Farm Link) websites to help connect farmers and farm seekers by providing information on such things as available farm land, agricultural employment, farm mentor and incubator programs, and farm transition planning. (The link above is simply a Google search for the term “farmlink,” as each website is generally state-specific and there is no centralized directory. Some of links on the Google search may be related to other topics.) top

FarmRaise is a one-stop shop for farm funding, informed by and built for farmers. Farmers are matched with grants, cost-share programs, and loans, and the program then helps them apply by simplifying and de-jargoning the paperwork. FarmRaise is free to use to access federal funding – over 40 federal level opportunities have been mapped and match farmers to those opportunities with a brief eligibility quiz that they fill out when they sign up.

International Farm Transition Network is a network of service providers from different professional backgrounds (e.g., accountants, lawyers, farm managers, ag lenders, Extension educators, etc.) working to assist farm businesses with their successful transition to an identified successor(s). The IFTN provides trainings on farm transition and succession planning coordination. top

INventure Business Planner from Purdue Agricultural Economics. To help entrepreneurs, Purdue offers a free, online business planning tool, INVenture, that guides users through those early steps. This page also contains sample business plans and other planning tools. top

National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) is focused on supporting America’s next generation of sustainable farmers and ranchers – all people who are starting a career in agriculture, typically in their first 10 years of growing. NYFC provides a resource page with training opportunities and land and job listings as well as a guide to credit and capital for beginning farmers. top

New Entry National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI) is a backbone organization that provides comprehensive one-on-one consulting, educational resources, and professional development opportunities for dozens of organizations throughout North America. top