Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with the State of Hawaii under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and the State of Hawaii are working together to offer over $2.5 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. The State of Hawaii is accepting applications for the Infrastructure and Equipment Grants until Feb. 26, 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 the State of Hawaii 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 Hawaii State Department of Agriculture aims to support food processing options for local and regional producers throughout the island chain. The primary focus of project funding is to expand capacity and infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply-chain, and thereby strengthening the local food system. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.
“For decades, a major challenge that has hampered the growth of agriculture in Hawai‘i is the lack of processing facilities which can add significant value to the commodities we grow and raise,” said Sharon Hurd, Chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. “This grant program aims to support agricultural producers by creating additional market opportunities for locally grown products.”
Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture until Feb. 26, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
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