USDA Partners with NYS to Award More than $14.7 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

New York is accepting applications for this infrastructure grant through June 28, 2024

PUBLISHED ON May 16, 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and New York are working together to offer more than $14.7 million in competitive grants for projects designed to build resilience at the midpoint of the supply chain. New York is accepting applications for this infrastructure grant through June 28, 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 government agencies, commissions or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or trade activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates to each state’s Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.

“This partnership between USDA and New York will allow critical funding to reach parts of the supply chain that need it most,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, Assistant Secretary of USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region’s small and medium-sized producers to thrive, increase access to nutritious food options and increase supply chain resilience.”

Using RFSI funding, AGM will partner with Farm and Food Growth Fund, Inc (FFGF) to administer the grant program to fund projects that expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation , wholesale 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 food products available in New York markets. Competitive project applications will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “With this RFSI funding, we have the opportunity to make a real impact on the resiliency of New York State’s food system – through the construction of agricultural facilities modernize and support, improve training, purchase new equipment, and more. These programs are designed based on a strong response from our agricultural community and will make a real difference in our state. We look forward to awarding the funds to companies and organizations that operate at the heart of the supply chain and connect the state’s farmers with consumers. . I thank USDA for its great partnership and progressive programming, which gives us additional momentum in our work to support New York farmers and agricultural businesses statewide.”

Those interested in receiving a subaward must apply directly through the FFGF by June 28, 2024. AMS encourages applications serving smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, experienced producers, and underserved communities.

In addition to the Infrastructure Grant funding, AGM is working with Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust to provide supply chain coordination and technical assistance to farmers and food companies involved in processing, aggregation and distribution – all critical activities to increase access to more and support better markets. for farmers. AGM is also working with the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Harvest New York Program will conduct an updated assessment of New York State’s processing infrastructure to identify barriers and opportunities to growth identify, as well as an analysis of the state’s institutional purchasing to provide market intelligence to New York State producers.

Visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage for more information.

–USDA AMS