The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant program. RFSP purpose is to support partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local and regional food systems.
Approximately $56.5 million will be available to fund applications under this solicitation. RFSP Planning and Design projects range from $100,000 to $250,000, while Implementation and Expansion projects and Farm to Institution projects range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. RFSP is part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). AMS welcomes applications that meet LAMP goals to support the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and enterprises, and value-added agricultural products. Eligible entities and activities remain the same as in previous years. A 25% cash match is required.
In the FY 2022 application cycle, AMS funded 36 (48%) of the 75 applications received.
AMS will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that meet the purpose of the program, meet all program requirements, and are of high quality. All applications are reviewed using merit and customary evaluation procedures. This announcement provides information regarding eligibility criteria for applicants and projects, details on match requirements, and the forms and instructions needed to apply for an award.
AMS encourages applications from partnerships that engage with smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and/or underserved communities. For grants intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.
USDA promotes climate-resilient landscapes and rural economic systems, including tools to support agriculture, forests, grazing lands, and rural communities. AMS encourages applicants to consider including goals and activities related to reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or adapting to the already occurring climate change in their project’s design and implementation.
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