Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2023 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Kansas under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA has awarded Kansas $6.46 million to fund grant projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Kansas is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through Jan. 31, 2024.
In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan.
“This partnership between USDA and Kansas is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The 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.”
Using RFSI funding, the Kansas Department of Agriculture will fund projects that build resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for the state’s producers. The state will be issuing subawards in the forms of Infrastructure Grants and Equipment-Only Grants to middle-of-the-food supply businesses to create more diverse local and regional market options and create more economic opportunities for communities. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.
"In order for the nation's food system to be more resilient, there is an increased need to focus on bolstering our local food supply chain. This grant program is an exciting opportunity for our state to create more economic opportunities for our communities and I'm confident we will receive numerous, high-quality applications that will benefit our Kansas food and farm businesses,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam.
Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the Kansas Department of Agriculture by Jan. 31, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
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