Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Missouri under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Missouri are working together to offer over $6.9 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Missouri is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through March 15, 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. Updates for each state’s Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.
“This partnership between USDA and Missouri 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 Missouri Department of Agriculture will build resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain and create more diverse local and regional market options and create more economic opportunities for communities, allowing them to retain more of the value chain dollar. Funded projects will focus on areas such as expanding facilities for value-added processing, increasing cold storage, implementing technology solutions, and reducing transportation costs. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.
“The agriculture community is the backbone of Missouri’s economy,” said Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn. “This grant offers our producers and processors the chance to expand their businesses and provide value to Missouri products. These funds are important to move our state’s food system forward.”
Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the Missouri Department of Agriculture by March 15, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
Through the program and in addition to the Infrastructure Grant funding, the Missouri Department of Agriculture will support supply chain coordination and technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating in processing, aggregation and distribution—all critical activities to support access to more and better markets for farmers.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
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