Resilient Food Systems INFRASTRUCTURE Grant

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Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Background Information

Capital Impact Partners, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the District of Columbia Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) will conduct a competitive solicitation to award a total of $1.4 million of RFSI funds to projects that maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Projects should support infrastructure and equipment in the middle of the supply chain for District of Columbia (District or D.C.) food and farm businesses and other eligible entities.

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, support the development of value-added products for consumers, encourage fair prices and fair wages, and create new and safe job opportunities. 

Middle-of-the-Food-Supply-Chain Definition

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines the middle of the food supply chain as activities that take place after the production of an agricultural product but before the product is sold to retail markets or consumers. These activities include food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of regionally produced food products between leaving the field and entering the consumer marketplace. 

Food products supported by the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program include specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat, poultry, and wild-caught seafood. This program does not support growing crops or direct food sales to consumers.

Entities Eligible for RFSI Grants 

  • Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors conducting middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as aggregation, processing, or distribution of targeted agricultural products;
  • Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as aggregation, processing, or distribution of targeted agricultural products; 
  • For-profit entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as aggregation, processing, 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 SBA small business size standards (SBA Size Standards webpage); and
  • Eligible entities must have a physical location in the District of Columbia.

RFSI funding priorities for the District will include food projects that:

  • Expand capacity for aggregation, processing, or distribution;
  • Construct new facilities;
  • Modernize manufacturing, tracking, and storage through information technologies;
  • Upgrade or install cold storage equipment to increase supply chain resilience; and
  • Enhance operations through employee training.

RFSI funds will support two different grant types: Infrastructure Grants and Simplified Equipment-Only Grants. An applicant can receive either a RFSI Infrastructure Grant OR a Simplified Equipment-Only Grant. An applicant can apply for both grants, but only one type of grant will be awarded to an enterprise. 

RFSI Infrastructure Grant

  • Award size of $100,000 to $250,000; 
  • Projects begin when grant funds are disbursed and end March 24, 2027; 
  • Grant applicants are required to contribute 25% - 50% of the total proposed project cost as a match to federal funding. 

RFSI Infrastructure Grant Timeline

  • Grant Submission:  November 19, 2024 - January 12, 2025
  • Grant Competitive Review:  January - February 2025
  • Approved Applications Submitted to USDA:  March 2025
  • Final decisions:  No earlier than July 1, 2025
  • RFSI Funding Period Begins:  No earlier than August 1, 2025
  • Infrastructure Grant Period Ends:  May 24, 2027 

Grant Application Support

Informational Webinars

In-Person Office Hours
Schedule: https://outlook.office365.com/book/InnoED@o365.dc.gov/ 

  • December 4, 2024 @ 2pm - 5pm EST
  • December 11, 2024 @ 2pm - 5pm EST
  • January 8, 2025 @ 1pm - 4pm EST

Hosted by the District Dept. of Small & Local Business Development at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, D.C.

Virtual Office Hours
Schedule: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/d81524c6/appointment/41845065/calendar/6701215?calendarIds=6701215

  • December 17, 2024 @ 10am - 12pm EST 
  • January 7, 2024 @ 1 - 3pm EST 

Assistance for Spanish-speaking Applicants

  • If a Spanish-speaking applicant would like assistance in completing the grant application, please contact Alison Powers, Director, Economic Opportunities, Capital Impact Partners, apowers@capitalimpact.org, (703) 647-2369.
  • Si usted habla español y necesita ayuda para completar la aplicacion por favor conectese con Alison Powers, Directora de Oportunidades Economicas de Capital Impact Partners, apowers@capitalimpact.org. , 703-647-2369.

Questions

Please contact Alison Powers, Director, Economic Opportunities, Capital Impact Partners, apowers@capitalimpact.org, 703-647-2369.

Applicant Resources

Additional Resources

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