Acer Access and Development Program

The Acer Access and Development Program (Acer) is a competitive grant program that promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple-sap products. Acer also incentivizes owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer to initiate or expand maple-sugaring activities on the land or to voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-sugaring activities. This program supports two project types: Market Development and Promotion and Producer and Landowner Education. The funding for each project type ranges from $200,000 to $500,000. Eligible applicants include states, tribal governments, and research institutions. All eligible applicants must be located within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.