Business Support

Application assistance and Farm Conservation Plans for any property owner in the Farm Forest and Open Space Program in Washington and Kent County. SRICD is a quasi-public not for profit corporation of the State dedicated to conserving the natural resources of Washington and Kent County, Rhode Island. We provide no cost assistance with applications for USDA NRCS federal funding as well as technical assistance with conservation needs.
We provide Open Space maps for a small fee and by-appointment assistance with your Farm Designation tax program application, as well as conservation education programs in your local school.
All services are available on site at our office, at your home, or at a public space convenient to you. Translated materials and interpreted services are available in Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Hmong, and other languages but may require advance notice. Please give us a call for help connecting with local farming, forest management, and conservation resources. We look forward to serving you!

SRICD is a quasi-public not for profit corporation of the State dedicated to conserving the natural resources of Washington and Kent County, Rhode Island. We provide no cost assistance with applications for USDA NRCS federal funding as well as technical assistance with conservation needs.
We provide Open Space maps for a small fee and by-appointment assistance with your Farm Designation tax program application, as well as conservation education programs in your local school.
All services are available on site at our office, at your home, or at a public space convenient to you. Translated materials and interpreted services are available in Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Hmong, and other languages but may require advance notice. Please give us a call for help connecting with local farming, forest management, and conservation resources. We look forward to serving you!

ERICD is a quasi-public not for profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural resources of Bristol and Newport Counties, Rhode Island. We provide no cost assistance with applications for USDA NRCS federal funding as well as technical assistance with conservation needs. We also provide Open Space maps for a small fee and by-appointment assistance with your Farm Designation tax program application, as well as conservation education programs in your local school. Though our current property is not ADA accessible, all services are available on site at your home or at a public space convenient to you. Translated materials and interpreted services are available in Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Hmong, and other languages but may require advance notice. Please give us a call for help connecting with local farming, forest management, and conservation resources. We look forward to serving you!

The RI Department of State Business Services Division maintains Rhode Island’s business registry. While we record new business formations and ongoing business registration activity, we also provide thoughtful guidance and comprehensive services to those looking to start and maintain a business or non-profit in Rhode Island.

Explore Business Basics to learn how to create a comprehensive business plan, choose a unique business name, choose a legal structure, hire employees, and choose a location to ensure success from day one. You can also find a list of support resources from our partners, including start-up assistance, loan application preparation, marketing and brand building, legal counseling, and much more.

NRICD is a quasi-public not for profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural resources of Providence County, Rhode Island. We provide no cost assistance with applications for USDA NRCS federal funding as well as technical assistance with conservation needs. We also provide Open Space maps for a small fee and by-appointment assistance with your Farm Designation tax program application, as well as conservation education programs in your local school. Though our current property is not ADA accessible, all services are available on site at your home or at a public space convenient to you. Translated materials and interpreted services are available in Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Hmong, and other languages but may require advance notice. Please give us a call for help connecting with local farming, forest management, and conservation resources. We look forward to serving you!

The Legal Food Hub is a free service that connects eligible food farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food/farm organizations in New England to volunteer attorneys for free legal assistance. Legal issues we help with include zoning, land leases, real estate transactions, intellectual property, entity formation, estate planning, contract review, disputes, and more! There are no limits on how often you can use our services as long as you are eligible (eligibility guidelines are available on our website).

USDA is issuing $1.625 billion in the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. To qualify, 2025 crop acreage reports must have been filed with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by April 24, 2026.

Payments are to address 2025 market disruptions and high input costs. Payment rates range from $25 to $650 per acre, based on national average revenue per crop. View the payment rates here.

Applications must be submitted between June 1 and August 7, 2026. If you have a Login.gov account, you can apply starting June 1, 2026. You can apply through local FSA offices starting June 8, 2026.

Payments will be issued as applications are submitted and approved.

Pre-filled applications are available to qualified producers with a Login.gov account. Qualified producers who do not have a Login.gov account, or who prefer to enroll in person at their local FSA office, can request their pre-filled application beginning June 8, 2026.

View the USDA Press Release here: https://shorturl.at/1f9yt.

ASCF details are available here: https://shorturl.at/lfDer.

Date: Friday, July 24th
Time: 4-6pm boat tours on the water (tours are staggered–the boat fits 5 people at a time & tours are ~30min) 6-7pm potluck and quahogging
Address: Gull Cove Fishing Access, Portsmouth RI. Further parking details to come.

Curious about aquaculture? Join us at the Young Farmer Night with Rhody Wild Sea Gardens! This night will be focused on oyster and kelp growing here in Rhode Island. Azure from Rhody Wild Sea Gardens will be walking us through their growing practices and then we’ll be sharing some food and hanging out the rest of the night. Come ready for a boat tour, to hang out on the beach, swim, and maybe even do some quahogging!

Date: Thursday, July 30th
Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm (tour of the facilities at 5:00pm, Calf to Cut presentation & potluck 5:30pm)
Address: 287 State Rd, Westport, MA 02790

Join us for a Farmer Potluck at Meatworks, a new USDA-Inspected multi-species meat processing facility for cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats. Join us for a tour of the facilities and a Calf to Cut presentation to learn about raising livestock on your farm and how to prepare for processing.