Acer Access Development Program (10.174)
Acer Access Development Program (Assistance Listing 10.174) is run by the Agricultural Marketing Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $30.9 million in 72 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $429,487 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $496,715. Half of the 72 awards fell between $273,178 and $499,958, and they ranged from $217,148 to $500,000.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$30.9 million
- Grant awards72
- Typical award$496,715
- Awarded in FY 2025$4.6 million
- Size rank1176 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $8.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $4.6 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1176th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 86% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 21 states and territories.
What the program funds
Acer program supports States, tribal governments, and research institutions to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the following activities: (1) Promotion of research and education related to maple syrup production. (2) Promotion of natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry. (3) Market promotion for maple syrup and maple-sap products. (4) Encouragement of owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer: (a) to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities on the land; or (b) to voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-sugaring activities.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
What the money can and cannot pay for
Agriculture/Forestry/Fish and Game Funding is utilized to cover expenses by State Department of Agriculture to provide project types as identified in the Request for Applications.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Funding opportunities are available annually. Applicants must review the applicable Request for Applications (RFA) for specific application deadlines. Refer to the program webpage at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants and visit the How to Apply tab for additional information.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$250k- $500k average award size is $500,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: FY25 funding supplements a three-year project to develop educational resources for maple sugarbush managers, consulting foresters, and other industry professionals to enhance the long-term resilience of the maple industry. Project goals include development of a micro-credentialed course, two conferences, and six field tours. An advisory committee of extension specialists, producers, researchers, and foresters will provide guidance. A survey conducted by graduate students to document the effects of weather change observed by maple producers, as well as establish permanent sugarbush monitoring plots to assess adaptation and mitigation strategies. As a result of this project, producers will learn about adaptation practices, develop resilience action plans, and forest management strategies. Summaries of this work will be presented at four conferences. Survey and monitoring plot results will lead to peer-reviewed publications.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Acer Access Development Program (10.174) awarded$30.9 million across 72 grant awards, an average of $429,487 per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 88% of the money, state and local governments 6.0% and nonprofits 2.5%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 63 | $27.3 million | 88% |
| State and local governments | 4 | $1.8 million | 6.0% |
| Nonprofits | 2 | $772,985 | 2.5% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 2 | $732,559 | 2.4% |
| Other | 1 | $273,179 | 0.9% |
By state
9 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 9 | $3.9 million |
| Vermont | 9 | $3.8 million |
| West Virginia | 7 | $3.0 million |
| Michigan | 7 | $2.9 million |
| Utah | 6 | $2.5 million |
| Montana | 6 | $2.5 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $1.8 million |
| Rhode Island | 3 | $1.3 million |
| New Jersey | 3 | $1.3 million |
| Indiana | 2 | $999,203 |
| Illinois | 3 | $999,075 |
| Maine | 2 | $934,443 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $894,020 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | $875,325 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $499,965 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $499,440 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $499,044 |
| Washington | 1 | $497,846 |
| Missouri | 1 | $473,481 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $470,387 |
| Ohio | 1 | $217,148 |