USDALFPPQuestions@ams.usda.gov

The Local Food Promotion Program provides grants to support the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access and availability to locally and regionally produced agricultural products.

Funding may support two types of projects.

• Planning Grants for the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise, such as:
  • Feasibility studies for new intermediary food channels, market potential, capacity, and potential competitors and partners in the region
  • Hiring experts for technical assistance to implement a local or regional food transportation system
  • Hiring experts for training on managing a food storage or processing facility
  • Creating a business development plan for marketing agricultural products
  • Developing strategies and providing direct financial support for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts for local food businesses
• Implementation Grants for establishing a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise, such as:
  • Developing or expanding food incubator programs or mid-tier value chains
  • Instituting group-based Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification for sellers of food into institutional or wholesale marketing channels
  • Cultivating new wholesale market channels through an online portal
  • Investigating and implementing more cost-effective means of transportation for food supply chains through backhaul, route optimization, and/or other operational efficiencies
  • Developing strategies and providing direct financial support for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts for local food businesses

Priority will be given to projects that benefit communities located in areas of concentrated poverty with limited access to supermarkets

Eligible entities include:

• Agricultural businesses and cooperatives
• Producer networks and associations
• Community supported agriculture (CSA) networks and associations
• Food councils
• Local governments
• Nonprofit corporations
• Public benefit corporations
• Economic development corporations
• Regional farmers market authorities
• Tribal governments

Planning Grants

• Award ceiling: $200,000 per year
• Award floor: $25,000 per year
• Project period: 24 months

Implementation Grants

• Award ceiling: $750,000 per year
• Award floor: $100,000 per year
• Project period: 3 years

A cash or in-kind match from non-federal sources is required. Applicants must match 10% or 25% of the total grant award amount based on the funding source of the award.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.

Additional guidance and required forms are available on the program website.