Thriving Farms Program
Free Grant Writing and Capital Access Services
Thriving Farms Services
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Free Grant Readiness Assistance |
Helping your farm become prepared to submit competitive grants |
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Free Grant Research Assistance |
Helping you identify grants that align with your goals and what you are eligible for |
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Free Grants Writing Assistance |
Assisting in writing, compiling, and submitting public and private grant proposals |
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Financial Training |
Trainings and workshops on market opportunities, financial management, and compliance |
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Business Development |
Training and funding assistance to improve marketing, branding, and market opportunities |
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Producer Networks |
Agricultural network groups like the Women Farmers Network and AgTraining & Technical Assistance Huis |
To access Thriving Farms Services, please start by completing our Farmer Help Desk Intake Form and choose “Thriving Farms” as the service you would like to start with.
The Thriving Farms Program strengthens the financial resilience and long term viability of Hawaiʻi’s agricultural producers by expanding access to capital and building grant readiness skills. Through free hands-on grant writing services, we work directly with farmers, ranchers, agrifood businesses, and agricultural nonprofits to develop competitive grant applications and improve their odds of success.
Beyond proposal development, our grant writing and financial readiness education offers workshops and individualized support to build producers’ understanding of grant and loan processes, budgeting, and financial documentation — giving them the confidence and capacity to pursue diverse funding sources on their own terms.To keep producers informed about timely opportunities, Ag Stew conducts ongoing funding research, maintains a publicly accessible grant and funding database, and distributes a bi-weekly Ag Funding Newsletter highlighting new and relevant opportunities.
Together, these services equip Hawaiʻi’s agricultural community with the tools, knowledge, and capital needed to sustain and grow thriving farm operations.
Thriving Farms Impacts in 2025
received grant writing and grant readiness technical assistance
attended grant readiness workshops
submitted on behalf of producers
Between 2024-2025
received by farmers and ranchers
received by agricultural organizations that directly support farmers and ranchers
submitted and still in review
Grant Readiness Assistance
Our Grant Readiness Assistance guides farmers and ranchers through the process of compiling the documentation and business fundamentals needed to compete for grant funding and become eligible for our Grant Writing Assistance services. We help producers understand what’s required to demonstrate land access, legal compliance and business registration (entity formation, local/federal regulations, HCE Certificate, SAM.gov registration), and a documented production history and market presence. We also coach producers on organizing their own financial documentation and record keeping—including sales, tax, and production records—and help them assess their readiness to for grants. By the end of this process, producers are equipped with the knowledge and documents to independently maintain a strong, grant-ready foundation.
Grant Research Assistance
Our Grant Research Assistance helps farmers and ranchers identify funding opportunities that align with their goals and match their eligibility and competitiveness. In addition to one-on-one research support, producers can access our Hawaiʻi Food and Agriculture Funding Database for free at any time and sign up for our funding newsletter to stay informed on new opportunities.
Click here to access our Hawaiʻi Food and Agriculture Funding Database and see current funding opportunities
Click Here to subscribe to our bi-weekly Grant Alerts Newsletter
Grant Writing Assistance
Our FREE one-on-one Grant Writing Assistance supports farmers, ranchers, and agricultural nonprofits in writing, compiling, and submitting public and private grant proposals. We work directly with producers to help develop clear, compelling applications that meet funder requirements and strengthen their chances of success.
Michael Kamiya
Kamiya Gold Inc.
Stories of Success
In 2024, Michael Kamiya of Kamiya Gold Inc. partnered with Ag Stew to secure funding through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program. With hands-on support navigating application requirements, coordinating technical documentation, and liaising with USDA Rural Development, Michael successfully secured a $40,868 award — completed in 2025.
The funds were used to install a photovoltaic system on the farm, powering a cold storage facility, lowering long-term energy costs, and strengthening overall operational resilience.
Shortly after having the PV system installed, the Punaluʻu area experienced an 8-hour power outage from high winds. Luckily, the PV system powered up the Tesla Powerwall with enough energy to keep the refrigerator running until the power came back on. With the refrigerator running, it kept all the papaya chilled. Fortunately, we didn’t have to unload the refrigerator or find an alternative way to keep the fruit cool. — Michael Kamiya