Grants / Department of Agriculture / Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA-AMS-TM-LRFD-C-0001: USDA Regional Food Business Centers

Closed Closed January 6, 2023 Opportunity USDA-AMS-TM-LRFD-C-0001 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Agricultural Marketing Service notices from 2022.

• Award ceiling$50.0 million
• Award floor$15.0 million
• Expected awards20
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes.

Producer Network or Association Food Council State Agencies and Regional AuthoritiesEconomic Development Corporations

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Regional Food Business Centers awards averaged $30.0 million; this notice allows up to $50.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (60% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 USDA Regional Food Business Centers (Regional Food Centers). The Regional Food Centers will serve as the cornerstone of USDA’s development of local and regional supply chains. They will offer coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building support to small and mid-sized food and farm businesses, with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system. AMS will award cooperative agreements to regionally based partners to support USDA’s work on regional food supply chains. USDA is using approximately $400 million in funds authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116—260, Division N, Title VII, Subtitle B, Section 751 to develop and implement the program, with approximately $360 million going directly to fund the Regional Centers. Through this solicitation, AMS will fund at least six USDA Regional Food Centers. There are three High Priority Areas that will each have at least one Regional Center specifically serving all or part of that area: Colonias (counties on the US/Mexico border), high need areas of the Delta and the Southeast, and the high need areas of Appalachia. In addition, there will be one national Tribal Center. There will also be Regional Food Centers that serve other areas of the country beyond these High Priority areas and the Tribal Center. This announcement identifies the eligibility criteria for USDA Regional Food Centers, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a USDA Regional Food Center agreement. This program is intended to benefit small and mid-sized producers, processors, aggregators, and distributors that sell into all types of markets, including local and regional markets. This program is inclusive of all types of products produced locally or regionally, including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, grains, and dairy. Applicants are required to prioritize service to underserved communities and businesses. Applicants to be USDA Regional Food Centers should engage and involve these beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.

Category: Agriculture.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.