Grateful For Grants

Grants are an important sourcing of funding for many non-profit organizations. A grant is a financial award that might come from a governmental organization or agency, private foundations, or corporations. The process of earning a grant typically involves an application process, including describing how funds will be used, and may also involve reporting back to the grant-giving organization, foundation or corporation after a certain amount of time. Grants might be awarded for broad use, or specific applications.

Jamestown Farmers Market recently received grants from the following organizations:

• United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County

• Farm Credit East

These grants provide a great snapshot for how organizations and corporations can provide funding to support particular programs!

The United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County (UAA) Projects Pool Grants Program is designed to fund specific artistic initiatives and advance creative projects that enrich the cultural life of the region. JFM applied for this grant to fund its annual market art commission, which in 2026 went to Wendy Bale and her paper cuts. (Learn more about Wendy Bale and this year’s market art in this blog post!) Applicants went through an evaluation by an advisory panel of artists and community leaders, followed by UAA Board of Directors approval.

The Farm Credit East Farmers Market Grant is designed to support participating farmers, market enhancements, marketing efforts and/or programs to support disadvantaged communities or improve access to fresh, local food. These funds dovetail well into JFM’s work to connect the community with fresh, local food and support general market needs.

These two grants represent very different missions or goals for the organization and corporation that awarded them, but also represent the unique crossroads of fresh, local food and community gathering space that JFM provides to the region! We’re grateful for the support of UAA and Farm Credit East through these grants.