CDFA - Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

1. CDFA Home  2. Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Program Overview The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses; to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, and fair wages; and create new and safe job opportunities. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will conduct a competitive solicitation to award RFSI funds to projects that maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Projects should support infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply-chain for California food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. The food supply chain involves the following stages: 1. Production, 2. Processing, 3. Aggregation and Distribution, and 4. Markets and Consumers. RFSI proposals must support the middle of the supply chain, which refers to stages 2. Processing and 3. Aggregation and Distribution. This program supports food system crops and products meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products, which are funded through other USDA programs). For more information on the funding source, please visit the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service program webpage. Please sign up for the RFSI email list if you would like to be notified of future RFSI funding updates. 2024 RFSI Grant Proposals The RFSI is comprised of two tracks composed of different project types: Infrastructure Grants and Simplified Equipment-Only Project Grants. Track 1: Infrastructure Grants will fund projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. Applicants may request between $100,000 and $3,000,000. Matching Funds are required for this grant type. Apply here for Track 1 - Infrastructure Grant Track 2: The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000. No match is required for this grant type. Apply here for Track 2 – Simplified Equipment-Only Grant Eligible Entities Entities eligible for Infrastructure Grants are listed below. • Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors. • Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Tribal governments operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. • Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. Match Requirement for Infrastructure Grants Infrastructure Grant recipients are required to contribute 50% of the total proposed project cost as a match to federal funding. This applies to all applicants except those who qualify for the reduced match described below. For historically underserved farmers and ranchers, or for other businesses that qualify under Small Business Administration (SBA) categories of small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, or veteran-owned small business, the required match funding contribution or cost share is reduced to 25% of the project cost. Applicant Resources • Request for Proposals (RFP)  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  • Questions and Answers (Q&A)  Grant Proposal Webinars and Office HoursGrant Proposal WebinarsWednesday, December 20, 2023 • RFSI Webinar Recording: Application Process  • RFSI Webinar Recording: Proposal  • RFSI Webinar Recording: AmpliFund System 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Click on times to register for the webinar.Monday, January 8, 202410:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Thursday, February 1, 20241:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.Office HoursThursday, January 4, 2024 • RFSI Office Hours Recording: Eligibility and Project Types 1:30 pm – 2:30 p.m.Click on times to register for the Zoom meeting.Passcode for all office hours will be:2024RFSI!Tuesday, January 9, 2024 • RFSI Office Hours Recording: Application Process Tips and Tricks 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Wednesday, January 17, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: Frequently Asked Questions Part II  • Critical Resource Infrastructure Letter template 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.Thursday, January 25, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: RFSI Program Overview  • Office Hours Recording: Descripción general del programa RFSI (en español) 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Tuesday, January 30, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: AmpliFund Budget Walkthrough 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: De Minimis and Indirect Costs Overview 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Tuesday, February 13, 2024 • Office Hours Recording: Grant Management 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.