Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Indiana under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Indiana are working together to offer over $6.7 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Indiana will accept applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding beginning Jan. 29, 2024, through March 8, 2024.
In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates for each state’s Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.
“This partnership between USDA and Indiana is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region’s small and midsize producers to thrive, expand access to nutritious food options, and increase supply chain resiliency.”
Using RFSI funding, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) will fund projects that help producers gain access to alternative markets by strengthening relationships with distributors, co-packers, and aggregation centers. This will result in a more resilient middle of the food supply chain within the state and increased access to locally grown products for Indiana residents. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.
“Our Hoosier farmers, producers, agribusinesses and consumers need a strong food supply chain system. We are grateful that USDA recognized this need in Indiana and across the country and continues to work with us to enhance our middle of the food chain businesses,” said Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb. “These grants will go a long way in ensuring rural vitality and success for our small and mid-sized producers and processors as well as Hoosier consumers.”
Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through ISDA. Applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 29, 2024, through March 8, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
Through the program and in addition to the Infrastructure Grant funding, ISDA will support supply chain coordination and technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating in processing, aggregation and distribution—all critical activities to support access to more and better markets for farmers.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
#
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter
@USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender