Food System Grants Available to Producers from Washington

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Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recently opened the application period for the Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant. This one-time grant program is funded by USDA and is designed to bolster the middle of Washington’s food supply chain. The program aims to enhance local and regional food systems by supporting activities like aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution.

Who should apply?

Eligible entities include agricultural producers, processors, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities meeting SBA small business size standards, local and tribal governments, and institutions like schools and hospitals. Priority will be given to projects that benefit underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers, small and veteran-owned businesses, and projects that expand processing, aggregation, and distribution capacities.

Key dates

The application period opened on May 30, 2024, and closes on July 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Application support and resources

WSDA is offering extensive support to help applicants through the process. This includes assistance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and dedicated office hours every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the application deadline.

Visit the RFSI webpage for more information about what’s available.