A Long Time Coming | Major Compost Infrastructure Development Funding, Advocacy works!

By: Linda Norris Waldt

Funding for major compost infrastructure development is at last included in a large federal funding bill, The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.

The US Department of Agriculture has confirmed that compost is eligible for a $500M program aimed at projects that would increase competition and provide farmers more alternatives to conventional fertilizer, such as more climate-friendly projects. Compost and biochar are in the definition of nutrient alternatives. Winning grant proposals can use the funding for equipment, land, facility construction; modernization/expansion; workforce recruitment; labeling/compliance costs, among other things.

This is something USCC has been working towards for years, with our participation in the formation of the Compost Infrastructure Coalition, in which we have worked with several Congressional offices to draft the Compost Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act, along with numerous meetings with USDA and EPA staff to beat the drum about the importance of compost to jobs, economic development, climate goals and ecosystem benefits. YOU have helped us with your advocacy through the Compost Action Center. Nearly 2,000 email contacts have been made with congressional offices, NRCS (part of USDA) staff and EPA staff by YOU, the advocates of compost!

Now, regarding the grant program. We are urging anyone thinking of applying for these funds to quickly go through the registration on the SAM Portal, which can take a week or more, as well as complete the USDA’s pre-screening tool to make sure you are eligible for the grant money. Then, pull together your partners and put on your thinking caps. As members, USCC is willing to provide letters of support for your project proposals.

Our assessment of the program tells us that these are target project types for funding:

• Farm Focused Projects: Compost facilities in which farms are beneficiaries or partners, either through use of compost on farm or development of facilities in partnership with farms in rural areas
• Public Private Partnerships: With the minimum grants being given at $1M; only 30-50 projects to be funded, and a required match of 40% for $5M and under/75% over $5M. These will require some significant lifts for matching. Working with a municipality, university, local agricultural cooperative, or others who can provide land, in-kind personnel assistance, etc. will be crucial.
• Projects Underway/Expansions: The required timeline is quick. There are two deadlines to apply: November 14, 2022 and December 29, 2022. The USDA explained on their webinar that the first financial pool is expected to go to a small number of projects that are “shovel ready” so to speak. The second deadline is intended to give those who have projects that need more development.

There’s a lot more to know about this program. Find the USDA site HERE and USCC’s information page HERE.