Working Lands Enterprise Initiative:Enterprise Investment Area

Grantee OrientationPresentation by:

Colleen Leonard, Agricultural Policy Administrator Noelle Sevoian, Agricultural Development Coordinator

Melissa Moon, Grants Program Specialist II

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Administrative SupportColleen Leonard, Agency of Agriculture, Food and MarketsWorking Lands Administrator

Noelle Sevoian, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Agricultural Development Coordinator

Melissa Moon, Agency of Agriculture, Food and MarketsGrants Program Specialist

For webinar participants: since we are small group, we’ll take questions at the end.

All materials and a taped recording of the webinar will be made available at www.vermontworkinglands.com.

If you are having technical difficulties please email noelle.sevoian@state.vt.us.

In the event your technical issue cannot be quickly resolved, we will provide one-on-one assistance at a later date.

Welcome

Congratulations!Now the work begins!

But first…

A word from our sponsors, with a focus on the intent behind the Working

Lands Initiative and it’s overall goals…

Working Lands Grantees

Nine Goals of the Working Lands Initiative

Act 142 of the 2012 VT Legislature set forth these Goals:1. Stimulate economic development effort on behalf of Vermont’s

agriculture and forest product sectors by systematically advancing entrepreneurism, business development, and job creation.

2. Recognize and build on the similarities and unique qualities of Vermont’s agriculture and forest product sectors.

3. Increase the value of Vermont’s raw and value-added products through the development of in-state and export markets.

4. Attract a new generation of entrepreneurs to Vermont’s Working Landscape.

5. Provide assistance to agricultural and forest product businesses in navigating the regulatory process.

6. Use Vermont’s brand recognition and reputation as a national leader: in food systems development, innovative entrepreneurism, and as a “green” state to leverage economic development and opportunity in the agriculture and forest product sectors.

7. Promote the benefits of Vermont’s working lands, from the economic value of raw and value-added products to the public value of ecological stability, land stewardship, recreational opportunities, and quality of life.

8. Increase the amount of state investment in working lands enterprises, particularly when it leverages private and philanthropic funds.

9. Support the people and businesses that depend on Vermont’s renewable land-based resources and their sustainable and productive use.

Nine Goals of the Working Lands Initiative

An orientation to the WLEF grant agreement Important sections:

Cover Page – Start/End dates, Grant amount Attachment A – Statement of Work Attachment B – Payment Provisions Attachment C – Standard State Provisions Attachment D – Other Provisions

Other rules and regulations regarding grants

To review resources available on the www.vermontworkinglands.com website.

Purpose of the Webinar:

The cover page information contains:

◦Project Title◦Start and End Dates for the grant project◦Maximum amount payable ◦Contact person

An example cover page follows…

Cover Page

Parties: This is a Grant Agreement between the State of Vermont, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (hereinafter called “State”), and Name or Business Name with principal place of business at Address, (hereinafter called “Subrecipient”). It is the Subrecipient’s responsibility to contact the Vermont Department of Taxes to determine if, by law, the subrecipient is required to have a Vermont Department of Taxes Business Account Number.  Subject Matter: The subject matter of this Grant Agreement is Project Title. Detailed services to be provided by the Subrecipient are described in Attachment A. Maximum Amount: In consideration of the services to be performed by Subrecipient, the State agrees to pay Subrecipient, in accordance with the payment provisions specified in Attachment B, a sum not to exceed $Total Maximum Grant. Grant Term: The period of Subrecipient’s performance shall begin on Start Date and end on End Date.  Source of Funds: Federal $      or Other $Maximum Grant Total Amendment: This agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties; No changes, modifications, or amendments in the terms and conditions of this Grant Agreement shall be effective unless reduced to writing, numbered, and signed by the duly authorized representative of the State and Subrecipient. Cancellation: This Grant Agreement may be suspended or cancelled by either party by giving written notice at least 30 days in advance. Contact persons: The Subrecipient’s contact person for this award is: Name:      ; Telephone Number:      ; E-mail address:      ; mailing address:      .

The START and END dates are important because… Project work cannot begin until the grant agreement has been

“fully executed” (signed by grantee and then counter-signed by the Secretary of Ag or the deputy Secretary).

Expenses cannot be incurred nor matching funds utilized until the grant has been fully executed.

Funds spent before the grant has been fully executed will not count toward project matching and will not be considered part of the project.

When received – carefully review, sign and return your grant agreement as soon as possible! A fully executed copy will be sent to you by the business office. Keep this in your files for guidance as your project proceeds.

WLEF Enterprise Investment Area Grants are for 12 months. Even if immediate project work ends sooner than twelve months, data collection to measure project outcomes and impact is expected for the full twelve month grant period.

When Can Work Begin?

This contains your “Statement of Work:” what the project will accomplish, how and when, and reporting requirements (interim and final reports).

This also contains your project Goals, Performance Measures and Outcomes as submitted in your application.

Also required of all projects With your interim report:• 2 “before” high-resolution jpg images (min. 500K). One

of you, and the other of your business, farm or project site.

With your final report:• 4 high-resolution jpg (min. 500K) “after” images high-

lighting accomplishments, impact and completed work.

Attachment A

With both interim and final reports:• 2-3 sentences highlighting work achieved via your WLEF

grant suitable for a press release.

On any documents, posters, presentations, web pages created:• Working Lands must be credited as a source of project funding.• Working Lands logo must be included.

Attachment A

This contains Payment Provisions• Payment plan and schedule• Requirements/reports/steps needing to be taken

before payment can be made• Consequences - If deadlines are not met = reductions in payment• Typical grant payment schedule:• 40% upon receipt of initial invoice and required docs • 40% with interim report and match documentation• 20% at end date and submission of final budget, final

report, matching verification, exit survey, and other required documents.

Attachment B

Consequences = reductions in paymentInterim report payment (40% of total grant)• 3% reduction in second payment if interim report

received late

Final report payment (20% of total grant)• $10 deduction for each day late

If final report received >28 days late = • Final payment forfeited

Attachment B

Standard requirements for all grants and contracts over $10K in the state of Vermont.• Insurance: • Worker’s Compensation (unless you are sole proprietor)• General Liability - $1,000,000 coverage (details in grant agreement)• Automotive Liability - $1,000,000 coverage (details in grant agreement)• An insurance certificate needs to be sent to the Agency of

Agriculture business office naming the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets at 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602-2901 as additional insureds for liability. (Required before first payment or project work can begin)

• In compliance with regard to Vermont taxes paid• If there is a child support order, you are current and in

compliance• All records are available for audit• No sub-contracts without prior approval

Attachment C

Other Grant requirements Matching Verification• Statement showing reserved funds in the

amount of grantee match required• Checking or Savings• CD certificate• Mutual Funds• A Third Party statement of funds provision for

matching purposes• Grant work cannot begin until matching funds

are in-hand and have been verified.

Attachment D

Other Grant requirements Grantee Intake Survey• This survey will provide the Working Lands Enterprise Board

(WLEB) with information regarding grantees’ businesses at this point in time. Completion is required for grant funding

• All information will be collected in aggregate and no identifying information will be connected with the data

• All information is confidential per 1 VSA Section 317, Access to Public Records.

• An end-grant survey and a one year post-grant survey must also be completed.

• Data analysis will be given to the Legislature to demonstrate results toward the nine goals set for the Working Lands Initiative.

Attachment D

Matching and grant funds must be spent at the same time (concurrently) as specified in the WLEF grant agreement

INELIGIBLE EXPENSES for PROJECT work or for MATCHING: Primary Applicant Salary/Time Overhead/Indirect Costs (every day costs of doing business, i.e. phone, copiers, electricity, office rental, Internet) Food / Meals / Entertainment costs

Match Requirements

• The budget submitted with your application will be inserted into your grant agreement. This is your “original” budget.

• With the final report, you will submit your final budget and compare actual expenditures against your original estimate.

Budget

May 2013 – Grant agreements finalized and sent to Business Office for Processing

Late May 2013 – First grant agreements fully executed

June 2013 – Initial invoices processed and $$ to grantees, only after all required documentation has been received

June 2013 – Project work begins

WLEF Grants Timeline

Late Dec 2013/January 2014 Interim Reports are due (six months + one week after grant “Start Date”), interim invoices are processed after receipt of all required documen-tation

Late May 2014/June 2014 – Project End Dates No More Than 28 DAYS after End Date –

DUE: Final Report and all supporting documentation[final budget (original vs actual), press release text, photos, final invoice, matching documentation].

WLEF Grants Timeline (continued)

Website www.vermontworkinglands.com

All forms needed can be downloaded from the website:• W-9• Matching Verification form• Working Lands graphic file• Direct Deposit Form – note: send completed forms to

the Department of Finance and Management (per instructions on the form).

Contact Information Website: www.vermontworkinglands.com E-mail: working.lands@state.vt.us

Melissa Moon, Grants Specialist II Phone: 802 828-3828melissa.moon@state.vt.us

VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets116 State StreetMontpelier, VT 05620-2901

Q & A

Thank you very much!

We’re cheering you on!!

Clover is, too!