HVADC People: Laura Conn

When Laura Conn unexpectedly lost her international development job at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier this year, she had no idea what the future would hold. Thanks to a timely recommendation, Conn quickly connected with HVADC and, within weeks, began applying her global development expertise to supporting Hudson Valley Farms through HVADC and its affiliate organization, the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF).

"I'm very thankful to have landed here," said Conn, who joined the combined team in February as a consultant grant reviewer. “The work felt like a natural fit.”

Since February, Conn has reviewed more than 100 grant applications and standardized metrics across the NYS Dairy Modernization Grant Program, which FFGF administers, and the Ulster County Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program, which HVADC administers.

“We’re fortunate to be working with Laura, who brings deep experience in international grants administration,” said Mary Ann Johnson, Deputy Director of HVADC and Vice President/CFO of FFGF. “She initially joined us as a reviewer for grant applications, and her expertise, attention to detail, and understanding of program design and compliance have made her an invaluable partner in strengthening our grants administration work for both organizations.”

Building Financial Bridges

Throughout her career, Conn has focused on increasing access to finance for the agricultural sector through technical assistance, catalytic grant and lending programs, working with USAID, USDA, and privately funded programs, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her specialty has been serving as a bridge between development organizations and investors, helping banks adapt their products for farmers and agribusinesses, and connecting impact funds with agricultural investments.

"My soft spot, my heart, is working with financial institutions to find and design products that will continue to serve the agriculture sector after grant funds are mobilized," Conn explained. "Working with financial institutions to increase lending to the ag sector has always been something that I'm professionally interested in, but also believe, from a sustainable development standpoint, is critical in the long term."

Conn appreciates HVADC's approach of offering investment solutions that span from accessible grant funding to loan products.

She added, "I’m glad to be working on all these grant funds, but I'm also really excited about this business model and the fact that HVADC is delivering loan products."

Community Stories That Stand Out

In just a few short months since starting, Conn has reviewed dozens of grant applications for HVADC and FFGF — 19 for the Ulster Farm Viability & Sustainability Grant Program and over 100 for FFGF’s NYS Dairy Modernization Grant Program. The letters of support that accompany these applications stand out to her.

“The letters of support are so much richer than those I received on international programs,” said Conn. “They get very personal, talking about how wonderful [the farmer is], what an important member of the community they are, and all the different things that they do beyond producing food and agricultural products. I think these letters go a long way, and they’ve been fun to read.”

Finding New Ways Forward

The applications themselves tell compelling stories of need and resilience. Conn recalls reading about dairy farmers with storage tanks from the 1970s that are failing, forcing them to dump milk.

"These upgrades are critically needed," she emphasized. "These grant funds can have a significant impact on the day-to-day functioning of a family farm."

One trend that particularly resonates with Conn is the drive toward diversification, which she sees as a positive trend.

“The Ulster County grant program asks farmers to address climate resilience, which really comes down to diversification, like not planting just one crop that can be impacted by weather, or installing larger tanks that can store milk for longer if you get a ton of snow and trucks can’t move product right away.”

For farmers considering applying for HVADC or FFGF grants, Conn had encouraging words: "People who are managing these funds want you to be successful and want you to apply. We are a resource for anyone who is interested. Don't hesitate to ask questions and reach out. We want new players, new actors to come into the space and benefit from these opportunities."

Effective July 1. 2025 Conn will be joining FFGF and HVADC in a full-time capacity, as Senior Grants Manger. We welcome Laura to the HVADC/FFGF team.

"I look forward to continuing to support these programs and learning more about agriculture in New York State and this region," Conn concluded.

To learn more about HVADC grant programs, visit https://www.hvadc.org/agribusiness-grants, and to learn more about FFGF, visit https://www.ffgrowthfund.org/.