Smaller food producers and distributors in under-served communities can now apply to participate in a federal program to strengthen local food businesses that has $400 million in available funding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently.
Sec. Tom Vilsack announced on Sept. 7 the USDA's plan to create six new Regional Food Business Centers (RFBC), the agency reported at the time. The USDA is also providing approximately $400 million for coordination of technical assistance and capacity building for local food systems, according to the report.
“Regional Food Business Centers will serve as USDA’s cornerstone in the development of the local and regional supply chains," Vilsack said in the announcement, "building on lessons learned during the pandemic, providing technical assistance, and creating new market opportunities in areas where the need is greatest.”
RBCs will help small and mid-sized farmers, ranchers and food businesses enter new markets and access federal, state and local resources as well as provide technical and capacity-building services "with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse, and competitive food system," according to the announcement.
The first RBCs will serve a national tribal center, Colonias (counties on the U.S.-Mexico border), communities in the Delta and Southeast regions and areas in Appalachia with persistent poverty, high need and limited resources. Other centers will be located in other regions of the country as well, according to the USDA.
Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA under secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in the announcement that the "USDA is committed to supporting smaller producers, processors, and distributors to diversify economic opportunities in under-served communities."
Three or more eligible entities representing at least two types of eligible organizations must each submit an application to lead a RFBC. The announcement lists eligible entities to include "producer networks or associations, food councils, tribal governments, state agencies or regional authorities, institutions of higher education, nonprofit corporations, economic development corporations, and partnerships between one or more eligible entities."
Applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 11.59 p.m. Eastern Nov. 22, 2022.
“The USDA Regional Food Business Centers will decrease barriers and improve supply chain linkages for producers, processors and distributors," Moffitt said in the announcement, "and strengthen regional food systems networks and partnerships in response to hardships and vulnerabilities exposed by recent national emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.”
