Jim Moore / November 11, 2026
PENN YAN — Agricultural producers, winemakers, and regional tourism groups across New York can now tap into direct financial assistance as the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) launches the fourth cycle of its Mini-Grant Program.
The initiative, which opened submissions on Monday, November 2, 2026, distributes flexible funding designed to help local industry members execute targeted marketing, staff education, and strategic business projects. According to foundation leadership, the structure bypasses lengthy budget cycles to help operations act quickly on timely opportunities.
Grants are distributed across two primary project categories:
- Promotion & Marketing: Activities including in-person or digital promotional events, regional agritourism campaigns, winery advertising, and subscriptions to industry publications such as Wine Enthusiast and Cristaldi & Co.
- Education & Business Development: Professional seminars tailored for management or tasting room personnel, as well as third-party consulting covering succession planning, financial oversight, marketing execution, strategic planning, and DEI training.
Funding tiers are structured based on organizational membership status, with awards disbursed on a rolling, first-come, first-served schedule until allocations run out:
- NYWGF Member Wineries and Growers: Eligible for awards up to $1,000
- Non-Member Wineries and Growers: Eligible for awards up to $500
- Wine Trails and Industry Nonprofits: Eligible for awards up to $750
Eligible projects must fall within an operational window spanning April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Foundation staff typically deliver award notifications via email within four to five weeks following submission. To retain standing for future grant rounds, all awardees must file a formal project summary by April 30, 2027.
Applications are accessible through newyorkwines.org/mini-grant-program, with inquiries directed to NYWGF Membership Manager Jennifer Cooper at jennifercooper@nywgf.org.
