Resilient Food Systems Equipment-Only Grants

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RFSI Solicitud Propuestas de Subvencion para Equipos Solo

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The Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) is the administrator for a portion of New York State’s Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program with a focus on enhancing, growing and improving the mid-channel of the food supply chain.

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Funded under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, and with allocations made to all 50 states plus districts and commonwealths, the goals are to expand each state’s middle-chain capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products. Meat, poultry, cannabis, animal food and forage, fiber, and wild caught seafood products are not considered under this program.

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The RFSI program will make infrastructure awards to businesses and organizations operating in the middle-of-the-supply chain. Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York markets. Competitive project applications must benefit multiple producers and multiple markets, and may be collaborative applications.

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The Department has been funded through the USDA RFSI program to expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products).

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The grant program is to fund projects that expand statewide capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Successful projects will focus on increasing the supply of New York-sourced food products available in New York and regional markets. Competitive project applications will benefit multiple producers and multiple markets.

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Two grant opportunities will be available for New York agricultural businesses:

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Infrastructure Grants: This competitive opportunity is focused on funding infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally produced agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Applications may be submitted for projects ranging from $100,000 - $3,000,000. Applications must include match funds of 50% or 25% for historically underserved groups. New York State received a tremendous interest in the RFSI Infrastructure Grant Program, as made evident by the number of applications which were received. RFSI Grant applications which were successful have been notified of their pending award. Those unsuccessful in the Infrastructure grant round are welcome to apply for the Equipment-only round.

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June 16, 2025 Update:
GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES $13.7 MILLION AWARDED TO 19 FARM AND FOOD ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH 2024 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE -Equipment-Only Grant Funding To Open Soon

 

Equipment-Only Grants: This competitive opportunity is focused on funding equipment for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of agricultural food products (excluding meat and poultry products). Eligible applicants may request awards in the amount of $30,000 - $100,000. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants. 

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Applications open: July 7, 2025
Applications Close: July 23, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET - now closed
Open Virtual Business Hours Replay

Equipment-Only Grants

Approximately $1,000,000 will be available to eligible applicants.

 

These awards will be $30,000 - $100,000. Equipment must be used for post-harvest aggregation, processing, packing, or distribution of eligible agricultural products.

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There will be no Match Requirement. Please note that grant funds may go towards pieces of equipment that are more than $100,000; however, the applicant must demonstrate the capacity to pay for the remainder of the equipment cost. For example, if a piece of equipment is $140,000, the applicant can ask for $100,000 in grant funds but must demonstrate that the additional $40,000 is committed or secured at the time the application is submitted.

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Interested in Applying? Take these Steps:

Unique Entity ID

1. Obtain a federal Unique Entity ID

Sub-awardees are required to obtain a UEI in SAM.gov prior to being issued a subaward.  This process can take multiple weeks in some instances, so it is important to start the process now. For information on how to register with SAM.gov and get a UEI number, visit https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. It is free to register in SAM.gov.

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2. Get your project ready!

RFSI Equipment-Only applicants will need to have purchase-ready project due to the relatively short timeline of the grant. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. Gather your equipment estimates and make sure you know if you will need any local permits for your project. Some of the documentation that will be required includes:

• A letter of support

• A letter of commitment

• NEPA questionnaire

• Budget quotes for each requested equipment

• Evidence of Critical Resources and Infrastructure

• Evidence of permitting requirements

• Any site plans/drawings

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Review the full pre-application checklist.
 

In the application, potential projects will be required to submit details of the project, including:

• All contact information

• An executive summary of the purpose, objectives, deliverables and expectations

• A statement outlining the specific issue, problem or need that the project addresses

• A summary budget

• Performance measurements

• Names of personnel and consultants to be involved with the project with references and demonstration of expertise and experience

• Any equipment and supplies to be purchased with estimates and/or project quotes

• Any construction included in the proposal with necessary permits, pre-approval, and certification as applicable.

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To Apply:

• Review the RFP for RFSI Equipment-Only Grants.

• Review the pre-application checklist.

• All applications must be submitted via the SMA system at http://ffgf.smapply.us/. No paper applications will be accepted. 

• Applicants who have not previously registered in the FFGF SMA Grant Portal will need to register for an account using a verifiable email address.

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​Definition of Middle-of-the-Supply Chain

Middle of the supply chain refers to the processing, aggregation, storage, wholesaling, or distribution of products.

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Priorities and Objectives

• Support infrastructure development to expand business' capacity for processing, aggregation, storage and distribution.

• Target development of infrastructure projects to the dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic industries to support the development of new value-added products.

• Create greater market access to intermediaries such as food hubs, aggregators, wholesalers, and distributors with the goal of increasing local food sales to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities.

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Estimated Funding Timeline

Equipment-Only Grant Timeline*

 

• RFP Opens:  July 7, 2025

• Virtual Open Business Hours: July 14, 2025, 12:00 p.m.ET

• Applications close: July 23, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET  now closed 

• Application Website: https://ffgf.smapply.us/prog/rfsi_ny_equipment-only/

• Question and Answers Submission: Send written questions to RFSI@ffgrowthfund.org 

• Anticipated Awards Fall 2025

• Projects Completed December 31, 2025​

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Eligibility

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Who is eligible?

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• Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors;

• Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products;

• Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products;

• Tribal governments operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products; and

• Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural product.

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All applicant businesses and organizations must be physically located in New York State and domestically owned.

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What is eligible?

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Eligible projects must focus on acquiring equipment that meets the priorities listed above, with the purpose of expanding capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of locally and regionally produced food products.

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Examples of eligible projects may include but are not limited to:

• Equipment that will meet standards needed to enter new wholesale or retail outlets, such as a food safety component, packaging/labeling component, or quantity target that is required by a new market outlet.

• Value-add equipment that would significantly increase production, allowing for the business to offer more units of product into the marketplace to meet demonstrated need.

• Equipment that enables a new product line, such as a new size of packaging or a new variety of product that wouldn’t be able to be offered without the piece of equipment.

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Eligible Activities

The only eligible expense for this grant round is specialized equipment (or otherwise known as special purpose equipment) that directly aligns with the goals of the RFSI program.  Special purpose equipment is tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 per unit. Special purpose equipment must be used for a specific activity and not be used for general needs. Items under $5,000 per unit are considered supplies and not eligible for this grant.

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Some examples of special purpose equipment include:

• Upgrades or new equipment for specific agricultural products, such as:

  • Processing, preservation, and storage/cold storage;

  • Post-harvest cleaning and grading;

  • Purchase of freezing equipment, freezer, or cold storage;

  • Processing, canning, preserving and pasteurization;

  • Preparation and packing;

  • Drying, hulling, shelling, and milling;

  • Reverse osmosis systems

  • Egg packing machines

  • Flotation tanks

  • Roasters

  • Packing and labeling equipment

  • Cooking, baking, juicing, distilling, fermenting.

• Special purpose vehicles relevant to the scope of work, such as delivery vehicles or refrigerated trucks. If the vehicle is mixed-use, it must be used primarily as a delivery vehicle and not shared between many programs or functions.Please note that on-farm equipment must be for post-harvest activities, not for crop production activities, including harvest activities and must benefit more than one farm.

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Ineligible Activities

Funds cannot be used for agricultural production activities/costs, including any growing or harvesting equipment, such as a tractor or irrigation system. Funds additionally cannot be used for retail space or consumer-facing outlets. Both farm production and retail are considered the start and end of the food supply chain and thus ineligible for this grant.

Ineligible activities include:

 

• Equipment that has a minimal impact on one of the primary RFSI goals. For example, a piece of equipment that has a very small increase in production or increases market access by a minimal amount.

• Projects supporting meat, poultry, wild-caught seafood, exclusively animal feed and forage produce, cannabis, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, dietary supplements, seeds, or hemp-derived CBD.

• Projects that have already received State or Federal funding for the same equipment purchase. Subsequent activities from prior funding are allowable; however, applicants must clearly demonstrate how this equipment purchase is distinct from a prior grant-funded activity and that there is no overlap in budget line items.

• Projects by NYS businesses that conduct processing or value-add for agricultural products that are not local or regional.

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Resources

RFSI Equipment-Only Grant RFP

How to Create an Account on Survey Monkey

Step by Step Video: How to Complete the Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Open Office Hours Webinar Replay

Instructions in Arabic للمزيد من المعلومات باللغة العربية، يرجى الضغط

​Instructions in Mandarin 如需更多中文信息

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For language support in Spanish, Arabic, or Mandarin, please email RFSI@FFGrowthFund.org

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Beyond the RFSI program, FFGF and its affiliate organization the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) both offer numerous programs that are available for farms and food businesses to access. 

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For questions, please email us at RFSI@ffgrowthfund.org