$3 million available for infrastructure and equipment, enhancing local food systems

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Calling all Wisconsin food businesses! The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is offering a chance to boost your local food game with the Wisconsin Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. This program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), grants up to $27 million to businesses looking to expand and improve their infrastructure for processing, storing, transporting, and distributing locally grown food treasures.

Two grant tracks cater to different needs:

1. Infrastructure Grants: Level up your operations with grants ranging from $100,000 to $3 million. This track covers everything from construction and equipment (think delivery trucks, cold storage, processing machinery) to building renovations, technology upgrades, and market development plans. A match is required, starting at 50%, but underserved producers can snag a 25% match.

2. Equipment-Only Grants: Need a new piece of equipment to jumpstart your growth? This track offers grants from $10,000 to $99,999, specifically for equipment like delivery vehicles, storage units, or processing machines. No match needed, just pure equipment-boosting goodness!

But here's the catch: no matter which track you choose, your project must be all about strengthening the middle of the Wisconsin food supply chain. This means creating more and better market opportunities for small and mid-sized producers, especially those lacking access to value-added processing or struggling to meet premium market demands.

So, if you're a Wisconsin food business dreaming of bigger and better things, don't miss this chance! Applications for the RFSI Program close on March 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. Head over to the DATCP website to learn more and get your application rolling. Let's build a stronger, more vibrant food system together, one grant at a time!

An informational webinar about the RFSI grants will be held at 11 a.m. on January 9, 2024, via Zoom. Registration is required. To access the webinar registration, learn more about the program, or sign up for automatic email updates about the RFSI Program, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/RFSI.aspx. If you have questions about the program, email RFSI@wisconsin.gov.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-d-keine