Resilient Food Systems Equipment-Only Grant Program

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has entered into a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to administer the Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program in Vermont. Donor Name: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets State: Vermont County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 10/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The purpose of the RFSI grant program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams. This includes supporting developing markets for small and mid-sized Vermont farms and food businesses who grow, produce, or utilize local and regional products or ingredients. The primary goals of the RFSI program include: Increase market access, i.e. entry into new, bigger, or more profitable markets; Increase production, i.e. increase the number of units moved through the supply chain; and Diversify product offerings, i.e. offer new sizes, flavors, or types of products. Secondary goals of the RFSI program include: Retain more of the value chain dollar in communities, keeping profits in rural communities; Create more economic opportunities for communities; Promote development of Vermont value-added products; Improve job quality through increased wages, benefits, and/or worker safety and well being; Create new and safe job opportunities; Improve the capacity to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements; Increase and diversify processing capacity across the state, with an emphasis on underserved communities; Target gaps and opportunities in pandemic assistance and existing USDA grant programs that support the agricultural supply chain; Increase diversity in processing options in terms of business model approaches, geography, and availability to underserved communities; Modernize processing and manufacturing equipment; Develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, and/or improves air and/or water quality; Support underserved communities and have demonstrated local support for the project; and Support cooperatives, farmer, and worker-owned enterprises Funding Information Approximately $1,000,000 will be available for equipment-only projects. Grants range from $30,000 – $100,000. Project Period 1 year  Eligible Projects Examples of eligible projects may include but are not limited to: Equipment that will meet standards needed to enter a new wholesale or retail outlets, such as a food safety component, packaging/labeling component, or quantity target that is required by a new market outlet. Value-add equipment that would significantly increase production, allowing for the business to offer more units of product into the marketplace to meet demonstrated need. Equipment that enables a new product line, such as a new size of packaging or a new variety of product that wouldn’t be able to be offered without the piece of equipment. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants must be domestically owned businesses or organizations that are physically located in Vermont and registered in Vermont with the Vermont Secretary of State. Sole proprietors using a business name other than their own name must have their assumed business name (formerly known as a trade name) registered with the Vermont Secretary of State. Eligible entities can include: Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors conducting middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as postharvest processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products. Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products. Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products. Institutions bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers middle-of the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural product. These include organizations such schools (K-12; colleges/universities), hospitals, food banks, gleaners, food rescue, workplace cafeterias, correctional facilities, farmers markets, and care centers (senior, preschools). For-profit entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, or distribution of targeted agricultural products, whose activities are primarily focused for the benefit of local and regional producers, and that meet the eligibility requirements of the Small Business Administration (SBA) small business size standards, matched to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. For more information, visit VAAFM.