Funding Your Indoor Farm

Whether you’re a commercial grower, a non-profit organization, or are looking to build a greenhouse for your community, there are many opportunities to get funding. There are grants and loan programs available for all types of indoor growers—all you need to know is where to look and how to apply for them.

Most funding opportunities are focused on improving sustainability and making existing growing operations more environmentally friendly. There are many opportunities to receive funding if you’re looking to utilize renewable energy sources within your indoor growing operation. If that sounds like you, you’re already one step closer to getting—let's face it—free money!

You can search for grants, which are funds awarded to you that you don’t have to pay back.

You can also search for government loans, which you should apply for if you’re having trouble with private lenders. Loans you do have to pay back, most likely with interest. There are many government programs that work to help farmers and that allot funds to loan to growers.

Where To Look

The first place to search for funding is via your state government. Check your state’s .gov website for grants and loans that you may be eligible for.

The federal government also provides grants and loans for indoor growers. You can search the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website for grants and loans that may be applicable to your indoor growing goals.

If you’re looking for a loan, a great place to start is the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. They provide many types of loans for many types of growers. Search their website for a loan that’s applicable to you!

Another great resource is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which provides all kinds of grants. You can search their website for funding opportunities that apply to you.

Remember, most grants enforce specific requirements, so make sure to read all the information provided to ensure that you are a possible candidate.

A lot of grants are focused on improving sustainability and environmental friendliness. Additionally, a lot of government grants give priority to new farmers, women, and underprivileged farmers. If you fall into any of these categories, you’ll likely qualify for a grant from the government.

If you’re growing using hydroponics or aquaculture, be sure to search for grants and loans that are specific to those methods. They may classify as their own growing category rather than be included in more general agricultural grants.

Lastly, you can always look for private grants/loans from specific companies. You never know what you might find!

How To Apply

When you apply for a grant, you’ll need to submit a grant proposal. After you’ve made sure that you meet all the qualifications for the funding itself, you will need to explain why you should be awarded the money within the proposal.

You can hire someone to write your grant proposal for you, or you can write it yourself. A great guide for grant proposal writing can be found here.

When you apply for a loan, the lender will likely ask you to write up a business plan and will request information such as your financial history, production history, tax returns, and credit reports.

Once You’ve Been Awarded

Once you’ve been awarded, it’s time to start building or improving upon your growing operation! Whoever awarded you the funding will want to make sure that the money is being used in the way you promised, so they will follow the development process closely.

The organizations that fund your project’s grant will request financial reports and may visit your jobsite to ensure that there is no fraud being committed. A federal guide to the post-award grant phase can be found here.

Loans, of course, will have to be paid back (with interest) depending on the type of loan you take out.

Once you have the funds, contact TC Control Group to begin designing and installing the indoor growing operation of your dreams! With our control automation integration, we can help you monitor your operation to ensure that you're growing sustainably. Explore our “Capabilities” page to learn more.