RFP 0328 - New York State Agriculture and Food Systems Workforce Development Grant Program

The Department invites eligible applicants to apply for funding through the $3 million New York State Agriculture and Food Systems Workforce Development Grant Program.

Grant funds must be used to implement a program that prepares or leads individuals to employment in the agriculture or food system sector. Examples include programs that provide formal education or experiential learning for individuals to enter and gain skills applicable to jobs in the agriculture or food system industries; formal training or workforce development programs that provide, upon completion, a certificate, credential or other industry-recognized credential; and/or a formal program for currently employed individuals to gain new skills that help them better compete for other jobs in the industry or advance in their current role.

All details about the grant program are available in the Request for Proposals below.

Proposals must be submitted via the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System (SFS GM) to be considered for funding. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed proposals will not be accepted.

Proposals will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Proposals submitted after this date will not be accepted.

An informational webinar for interested applicants was held on February 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm. A copy of the presentation given during the webinar is available below. A recording of the webinar is available here. 

All questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing to:

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
Attn: Kathryn Davis
10B Airline Drive
Albany, NY 12235

Email: [email protected]

All questions must be submitted by 3:00 pm on March 20, 2026. All questions and answers shall become a formal addendum to the RFP and will be posted here by April 6, 2026.