Funding Available to Strengthen Food Supply Chain

Thinking about modernizing your facilities? Expanding? Or implementing new technology that could result in reduced energy consumption? If your business is a middle of the food supply chain producer there could be funding available!  

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain and contribute to the resilience of the food and agricultural supply. 

RFSI is offering $420 million for states and territories to work in partnership with USDA to fund projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. 

Funds are being awarded between $100,000 and $3,000,000, with an option for a Simplified Equipment-Only Project grant, funding smaller equipment purchases. 

Who’s eligible? 

• Local government entities  
• Tribal governments  
• Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that bring producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment.  
• Agricultural producers or processors 
• Nonprofit organizations  
• For-profit entities whose activities are primarily focused for the benefit of local and regional producers, and that meet the eligibility requirements of the SBA small business size standards 

All must either operate, or create benefits for, producers of middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. Producers of meat or poultry are excluded. 

What projects are covered? 

Cascade Energy can assist you with projects such as: 

• Modernization of manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems 
• Modernization of processing and manufacturing equipment 
• Modernization of facilities through upgrades, repairs, or retooling 

• Enhancing worker safety through the adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements 
• Development, customization, or installation of equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals 

Are you a food manufacturer with energy-saving capital projects that need outside funding? 

Contact Shelly Adams (shelly.adams@cascadeenergy.com)