2024-2025 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Grants Program

The Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants Program in Rhode Island is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 grant round until November 30, 2024, at 11:59 PM. Established in 2012 through a public-private partnership between the State of Rhode Island and private foundations, the LASA program is designed to support the state’s local food and seafood sectors by providing grants that enhance production, sustainability, and access within the Rhode Island food system. This round is funded entirely by the State of Rhode Island. For 2024-2025, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Division of Agriculture will distribute up to $500,000 in total grant funding, with individual grants capped at $20,000. Eligible applicants include farmers, businesses (such as LLCs), nonprofit organizations, and individuals involved in agriculture or seafood production. Administrative and overhead costs are limited to 10% of the total project budget. The program’s funding priorities, set annually by the LASA Advisory Committee, address several key areas to strengthen and diversify Rhode Island’s food system. Applicants need to align with at least one of these priorities: Supporting the entry, growth, or sustainability of underrepresented, beginning, small-scale, women, and veteran producers. Implementing climate-smart agricultural practices and adapting to climate change impacts. Developing marketing and distribution channels, particularly those that connect producers to food-insecure communities. Expanding product lines and value-added processing capacity. Building new cooperatives, partnerships, and collaborations in the agriculture and seafood sectors. Ensuring future land availability for farming through farm transition and planning. Enhancing on-farm food safety, including compliance with FSMA and HACCP standards. Applications are evaluated based on their alignment with these priorities, aiming to create impactful and sustainable benefits for Rhode Island’s agricultural and seafood communities. Interested applicants should contact RIDEM for more details or visit their website to apply.