Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Equipment-Only Grants are now closed.

The Department has been funded through the USDA RFSI program to expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products).

Using RFSI funding, AGM has partnered with Farm and Food Growth Fund, Inc (FFGF) to administer the grant program to fund projects that expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York and regional markets. Competitive project applications will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.

AGM has also partnered with Tierra Viva Collective to provide technical assistance to producers and conduct supply chain coordination activities.  Additionally, the Dyson Business School at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will conduct an updated assessment of New York State processing infrastructure to identify barriers and opportunities for growth, as well as an analysis of the State’s institutional purchasing to provide market information to New York State producers.

Two grant opportunities will be available for New York agricultural businesses:

Infrastructure Grants: NOW CLOSED. This competitive opportunity is focused on funding infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally produced agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). 

Equipment-Only Grants: NOW CLOSED. This competitive opportunity is focused on funding equipment for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $30,000 - $100,000. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants. See more information below.

Middle of the supply chain refers to the processing, aggregation, storage, wholesaling, or distribution of products.

• Support infrastructure development to expand business' capacity for processing, aggregation, storage and distribution.
• Target development of infrastructure projects to the dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic industries to support the development of new value-added products.
• Create greater market access to intermediaries such as food hubs, aggregators, wholesalers, and distributors with the goal of increasing local food sales to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities.

Applications for the RFSI’s Equipment-Only grants are now closed. Following USDA’s accelerated timeline for the execution of this program, the application for this opportunity will be open for a very limited time. The Department encourages all eligible producers to take advantage of the resources available below to be ready to apply promptly when the application opens.

Applications will be open to New York State entities and will provide awards ranging from $30,000 - $100,000. The funding may only be used for post-harvest equipment that will expand capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including value-added food products. Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York markets. Competitive project applications will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.

Interested in Applying?  Get Ready Now:

1. Obtain a federal Unique Entity ID

   Sub-awardees are required to obtain a UEI in SAM.gov prior to being issued a sub-award.  This process can take multiple weeks in some instances, so it is important to start the process now. For information on how to register with SAM.gov and get a UEI number, visit https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. It is free to register in SAM.gov.

2. Get your project ready!

   RFSI Equipment-Only applicants will need to have purchase-ready project due to the relatively short timeline of the grant. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. Gather your equipment estimates and make sure you know if you will need any local permits for your project. Some of the documentation that will be required includes:

• A letter of support
• A letter of commitment
• NEPA questionnaire
• Budget quotes for each requested equipment
• Evidence of Critical Resources and Infrastructure
• Evidence of permitting requirements
• Any site plans/drawings

Review the full pre-application checklist. 

In the application, potential projects will be required to submit details of the project, including:

• All contact information
• An executive summary of the purpose, objectives, deliverables and expectations
• A statement outlining the specific issue, problem or need that the project addresses
• A summary budget
• Performance measurements
• Names of personnel and consultants to be involved with the project with references and demonstration of expertise and experience
• Any equipment and supplies to be purchased with estimates and/or project quotes
• Any construction included in the proposal with necessary permits, pre-approval, and certification as applicable.

Complete information about how to apply for Equipment-Only Grants will be available on the Department’s website and FFGF’s website when applications open

To keep informed of grant opportunities, signup for the Department’s Monthly Harvest Newsletter or visit our Funding Opportunities page.