Local Food Promotion Program
This funding record is inactive. Please see the program website or contact the program
sponsor to
determine if this program is currently accepting applications or will open again in the future.
The Local Food Promotion Program provides grants to intermediary organizations to support the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
Funding may support 3 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
-
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
-
Farm to Institution Grants for
supporting institutional markets and institutional food
service operations through local and regional producers and
local and regional food enterprises that engage as
intermediaries. Projects may include:
- Support aggregation, processing, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products by increasing the availability of local food products available on the menu of pre-K through grade 12 schools, college, university, hospital, and public dining facilities and hospital and local government, tribal, and state-operated or contracted meal programs
- Connect, cultivate, and strengthen relationships between local and regional producers and local and regional food businesses that engage as intermediaries with local institutional markets
- Support the development of business plans and strategies for the inclusion and expansion of local food products, including value-added local agricultural products, in institutional settings and local and regional food system infrastructure in support of farm to institution
- Cover expenses incurred in obtaining food safety certification related and improvements to food safety practices and equipment to meet institutional requirements
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: $100,000
- Award floor: $25,000
- Project period: 18 months
Implementation Grants
- Award ceiling: $500,000
- Award floor: $100,000
- Project period: 36 months
Farm to Institution Grants
- Award ceiling: $500,000
- Award floor: $100,000
- Project period: 36 months
A 25% cash or in-kind match from non-federal sources is required.
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.
Related Content
Organizations (2)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, view details
- USDA Rural Development, view details
For complete information about funding programs, including your
application status, please contact funders directly. Summaries are provided
for your convenience only. RHIhub does not take part in application processes
or monitor application status.