Note: The next deadline for submitting Project Funding Applications is September 17th, 2010.

The Agricultural Management Institute Project Funding Procedures and Guidelines

These procedures and guideline have been developed to assist the agricultural industry in accessing project funding available through the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI). Eligible applicants can submit completed project application forms to receive funding for activities that meet the project objectives, fall under one of the categories and meet the criteria outlined below. Applications will be reviewed by the AMI Board of Directors.  All decisions regarding the application’s eligibility for funding are the sole judgment of the AMI Board of Directors.

The Project Objectives

Projects should be new, innovative and contribute to one or more of the following objectives:

 ·      demonstrate the benefits of business planning;

 ·      address farm business management gaps and opportunities;

 ·      foster the development of producers working cooperatively and share beneficial business management practices;

 ·      encourage producers to incorporate beneficial business management practices into their daily operations and activities; and,

 ·      develop simple and applicable business management information, products, services, resources or training for producers that enhance decisions making and farm profitability.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants: Canadian citizens and any registered organization, agency, association, community group, institution, university, college, group, joint venture, or consortium carrying on operations in Canada and capable of entering into a legal agreement with the AMI;

The AMI will fund direct expenditures required to implement the approved project. These can include but are not limited to:

·      incremental costs for consultants, and/or other contracted goods and services;

·      cost of developing project materials, project communications, project advertising, outreach/extension activities and project public notices;

·      incremental costs for rental or lease of facilities or equipment;

·      hospitality and travel costs within provincial government guidelines;

·      cost of material production in both official languages; 

·      rental costs for equipment and conference rooms;

·      incremental cost of services, such as salaries and benefits, specific per diem fees of personnel working directly on the development and delivery of the project; and,

·      non-reimbursable portion of the Goods and Services Tax or its successor.

 

The AMI will not fund: Expenditures that are not eligible include but are not limited to:

·      Normal overhead costs associated with carrying out the business of the applicant and/or its partners;

·      Costs incurred prior to the approved project start date including costs associated with preparing and submitting the project application; 

·      Costs that are not arms-length to the applicant

·      Ongoing activities or direct income support of the applicant and normal costs of establishing a commercial operation;

·      Capital costs such as the construction of buildings, or the acquisition of land and/or equipment;

·      Projects or parts a project that will not be shared with the public.

·      Costs covered under any Federal and/or Provincial and/or Municipal programs;

 

Program Categories: Projects must fall under one of the following categories.