USDA Offers $124 Million in Grants for Small and Mid-Sized Food Businesses
USDA today said it’s made available $124 million in Business Builder grants to support small and mid-sized farm and food businesses by funding projects that increase business viability, develop regional market opportunities and expand value chain capacity.
Business Builder grants are for small and mid-sized food and farm businesses, including agricultural producers, processors, aggregators, distributors and other businesses within each region of the 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers (RFBCs). They provide financial assistance to support farm and food businesses producing in, sourcing from and focused on local and regional markets.
The grants are being offered through the 12 RFBCs and are a part of their work to support a more resilient, diverse and competitive food system by providing assistance to access local and regional supply chains, including linking producers to wholesalers and distributors.
The 12 RFBCs are: Delta, Great Lakes Midwest, Islands and Remote Areas, Northeast, Rio Grande Colonias, Southeast, Appalachia, Heartland, North Central, Northwest and Rocky Mountain, Southwest and National Intertribal Food Business Center.
More information can be found on the Regional Food Business Centers webpage.