Key Takeaways:
- Vermont Grant Availability: Approximately $1 million in equipment-only grants are available through the RFSI program.
- Application Period: Applications will be accepted from August 28 through October 1, 2024.
- Grant Range: Grants range from $30,000 to $100,000 with no match requirement.
- Focus on Supply Chain Resiliency: The program targets the middle of the supply chain, supporting activities such as processing, storage, and distribution.
Strengthening Vermont’s Food System
This funding opportunity is part of the larger $3.2 million awarded to Vermont by the USDA through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program. The initiative is aimed at enhancing the resilience of the food supply chain by supporting projects that build capacity and sustainability within local and regional food systems. Earlier this year, VAAFM announced the availability of $2 million in Infrastructure Grants as part of the same program, with awards expected to be announced in the coming months.
Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, highlighted the importance of this funding for the state’s food system. “Equipment and other infrastructure tools are vital to the resiliency of Vermont’s food system and the small businesses that comprise it,” Tebbetts said. He noted that many food system businesses in Vermont currently operate with outdated and inefficient equipment, which limits their growth potential. “These grants will help our state’s food system businesses thrive and compete,” he added, emphasizing that the grants align with recommendations from Governor Scott’s Future of Agriculture Commission.
Federal and State Partnership
The collaboration between the USDA and Vermont aims to address critical gaps in the supply chain, particularly for small and midsize producers. USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt expressed the significance of this partnership. “The equipment 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,” Moffitt stated.
Grant Details and Prioritization
The RFSI equipment-only grants are intended for the purchase of “special purpose” equipment that costs $5,000 or more per unit. The equipment must be used for activities related to the middle of the supply chain, such as processing, storage, transportation, aggregation, distribution, or wholesaling of Vermont or regional food products. To qualify, the equipment must help applicants achieve one or more of the following goals:
- Increase market access;
- Diversify product offerings; or
- Increase production quantities.
VAAFM and USDA will prioritize applications that serve limited resource farmers, new and beginning farmers, and veteran farmers and producers.
Application Process
Interested parties can apply for the RFSI equipment-only grant directly through the VAAFM website. The application window opens on August 28, 2024, and closes on October 1, 2024, at 1:59 p.m.
