On December 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Regional Food Business Centers Request for Applications (RFA) relating to the indirect cost rate. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.414(c)(1), USDA is required to accept the NICRA from those entities that have one. USDA will issue an updated RFA and application documents in the coming days. USDA is also extending the deadline to allow applicants to adjust proposals according to the updated Indirect Costs section in the RFA. Information on the new deadline will be coming soon.
The Regional Food Business Centers will provide coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state and local resources, thereby closing the gaps or barriers to success. The Regional Food Business Centers will assist small and mid-sized producers and food and farm businesses with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system.
AMS is soliciting applications from organizations across the nation to develop the Regional Food Business Centers that will be geographically based, serving regional needs. Applicants must define the regions that their proposed Regional Food Business Center will serve, specifying high-needs priority areas within that region. USDA intends to serve each of the following priority areas by establishing at least one Regional Food Business Center in:
- National Tribal Center
- Colonias (counties on the US/ Mexico border)
- Persistent poverty or other communities of high need/limited resources areas of the Delta and the Southeast High need areas of Appalachia
USDA intends to fund at least six Regional Food Business Centers which includes two additional centers that will serve areas outside the ones listed above.
Application Submission
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. The updated RFA and information on a new application deadline will be posted there in the coming days.
Applicants need to review their in-progress applications to ensure that they reflect the new indirect cost rate information. To receive funding, the applications will undergo an administrative review to ensure the proposed activities fulfill the purpose of Regional Food Business Centers. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.
For more information visit the Regional Food Business Centers Program webpage, join our weekly “office hours” every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 ET (registration link is on the website), or contact us at RegionalFoodCenters@usda.gov.
To learn more about grant funding opportunities to enhance and strengthen agricultural systems, visit the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Grants and Opportunities webpage.
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