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Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) FAQs

What is the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)?

FSMIP is a competitive, matching-funds grant program offered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. It supports research-driven projects intended to strengthen and modernize the U.S. agricultural marketing system by improving marketing efficiency and overall market performance across the agricultural sector.

What is the main purpose of FSMIP funding?

The program is intended to support projects that explore new market opportunities and produce research and innovation that improve how agricultural products are marketed, moved, priced, differentiated, or accessed in the marketplace. The emphasis is on generating knowledge, evidence, and practical recommendations that lead to better marketing outcomes.

What types of projects are a good fit for FSMIP?

Projects that address barriers, challenges, or emerging opportunities anywhere in the marketing chain can be a good fit, including work related to direct-to-consumer channels, wholesale distribution, and retail markets. The key is that the project must be clearly centered on marketing outcomes rather than general production activities or unrelated outreach.

Does FSMIP require a research component?

Yes. A genuine research component is a key requirement. FSMIP is not intended to simply implement a program; it is intended to produce research-based findings and recommendations that improve agricultural marketing.

Are training or educational activities allowed under FSMIP?

They can be included, but only when paired with research that tests and measures the impact of the training on specific marketing goals. Training by itself, without a research component tied to measurable marketing outcomes, would not meet the stated intent of the program.

What kinds of marketing outcomes does FSMIP expect a project to target or measure?

The announcement cites marketing outcomes such as expanded market access, improved price discovery, better supply chain performance, stronger branding, and reduced transaction costs as examples of the kinds of outcomes that may be measured when training/education is included and, more broadly, as outcomes consistent with a marketing-centered project.

Who must primarily benefit from an FSMIP project?

The primary beneficiaries must be agricultural producers and agribusinesses. The project should be structured to create benefits for multiple producers or firms, not just one entity.

Are projects that mainly benefit a single company or individual eligible?

No. Proposals that mainly advantage one company or one person are explicitly described as not eligible for consideration.

Does FSMIP support projects for small operations only?

No. FSMIP welcomes projects serving agricultural entities of any size (small, medium, or large). However, the program favors work that is relevant beyond a single operation and can be applied across a broader segment of the industry.

What project scale or geographic scope is considered appropriate?

Projects addressing issues at the state, multi-state, or national level are described as appropriate. The program also indicates it is open to smaller-scale or unusual proposals framed as pilot projects or case studies, as long as they are presented as models others can learn from.

If a project is a pilot or case study, what extra expectation is mentioned?

Applicants are expected to include an objective focused on analyzing opportunities and developing recommendations for how the work could be scaled up or replicated in other regions.

Does FSMIP value collaboration, and if so, what kinds?

Yes. The program places special value on collaboration and highlights proposals that bring together state agencies, universities, the farm sector, and other relevant partners or stakeholders as particularly desirable.

What is the funding source and program identifier for this opportunity?

The 2014 funding cycle described is a discretionary grant program identified as CFDA 10.156.

Is there a matching or cost-sharing requirement?

Yes. FSMIP is described as a matching-funds grant with an explicit cost-sharing or matching requirement.

How much total funding is estimated to be available for the referenced cycle?

The estimated total funding available for the referenced (2014) cycle is $1,000,000.

What is the minimum and maximum award size?

Individual awards range from $25,000 (floor) to $150,000 (ceiling).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to state governments and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.

When was the opportunity posted and what were the key dates?

The opportunity was posted May 1, 2014. The application deadline was June 16, 2014. The archive date was July 16, 2014.

Was an informational teleconference offered for applicants?

Yes. USDA AMS scheduled an informational teleconference to review the Request for Applications and answer questions on Tuesday, May 13 at 2:00 pm Eastern.

How did participants get access to the informational teleconference?

Participation required emailing janise.zygmont@ams.usda.gov in advance to receive instructions.

Who is the program contact for access issues or additional assistance?

The listed program contact is Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer, at 202-720-5024.

Where can applicants find the full Request for Applications (RFA) and related materials?

The announcement references the FSMIP website for the full Request for Applications and related materials.

What is the clearest way to tell if a proposal is marketing-centered (as required)?

Based on the description, a compliant proposal is one where the central purpose and outputs are marketing-focused research findings and recommendations that improve market outcomes (for example, access, pricing, differentiation, movement through the supply chain, or efficiency), rather than general production work or outreach that is not tied to marketing results.