Regional Food Business Centers (10.186)
Regional Food Business Centers (Assistance Listing 10.186) is run by the Agricultural Marketing Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $390 million in 13 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $30.0 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $30.0 million. Half of the 13 awards fell between $30.0 million and $30.0 million, and they ranged from $15.0 million to $42.5 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$390 million
- Grant awards13
- Typical award$30.0 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$0
- Size rank428 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreement
Key findings
- It is the 428th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 13 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 12 states and territories.
What the program funds
This program supports regional food supply chains by creating Regional Food Business Centers (RFBC) to support coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building. The ultimate goals of the RFBCs are to: Expand and strengthen regional food systems networks and partnerships in response to hardships and vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Increase food and farm business and financial acumen, particularly among small and mid-size operators, Create more, new, and better markets, and increase market awareness and access for small and mid-size producers and processors, Increase the number of local producers that distributors, retailers and foodservice buyers source from, either directly or through intermediaries. Increase the number of new food and farm businesses and improve the viability of existing businesses, and Increase the revenue of food and farm businesses served.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible entities include producer networks, food councils, state agencies, regional authorities, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and economic development corporations.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Coordination - will act as regional hubs coordinating across geographic areas, with USDA, other State and Federal agencies with relevant resources, regional commissions, and the other Centers. This role will include a needs analysis, along with strategic and funding plans. Technical Assistance - will establish subawards to organizations to provide direct business technical assistance to small- and mid-sized food and farm businesses. Capacity Building – will provide financial assistance to support small projects that are unique to the region and may not be eligible for other USDA funding. These subawards may support staff time, business planning activities, software implementation, the purchase of special purpose equipment, and value chain coordination, and other expenses associated as outlined in the RFA.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply The program is no longer making new awards; however, previously funded projects continue to report expenditures.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$15,000,000 - $45,000,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: This program supports twelve competitively selected Regional Food Business Centers (RFBCs), including eleven Regional Centers and one National Intertribal Center. RFBCs provide targeted technical assistance and direct capacity building investment to spur growth in farm and food businesses and regional markets. RFBCs also act as regional hubs, coordinating access to relevant USDA resources and programs, and emphasize outreach to underserved communities and businesses.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Regional Food Business Centers (10.186) awarded$390 million across 13 grant awards, an average of $30.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intertribal Agriculture Council, Inc | Montana | 1 | $42.5 million |
| Rural Action Inc | Ohio | 1 | $42.5 million |
| University of California Office of the President | California | 1 | $35.0 million |
| Georgia Minority Outreach Network, Corp. | Georgia | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Hawaii Good Food Alliance | Hawaii | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Colorado State University | Colorado | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Mississippi Delta Council for Farm Workers Opportunities Inc | Mississippi | 1 | $30.0 million |
| The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation | Virginia | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Texas A&m Agrilife Research | Texas | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Locus Impact Fund | Virginia | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | $25.0 million |
| Michigan State University | Michigan | 1 | $20.0 million |
| Region Five Development Commission | Minnesota | 1 | $15.0 million |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 60% of the money, colleges and universities 36% and state and local governments 3.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 7 | $235 million | 60% |
| Colleges and universities | 5 | $140 million | 36% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $15.0 million | 3.9% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 2 | $60.0 million |
| Montana | 1 | $42.5 million |
| Ohio | 1 | $42.5 million |
| California | 1 | $35.0 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Georgia | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Mississippi | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Texas | 1 | $30.0 million |
| Nebraska | 1 | $25.0 million |
| Michigan | 1 | $20.0 million |
| Minnesota | 1 | $15.0 million |