{"id":27903,"date":"2024-01-08T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=27903"},"modified":"2024-01-07T08:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T13:34:52","slug":"maryland-department-of-agriculture-in-partnership-with-usda-announces-resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program-grant-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2024\/01\/08\/maryland-department-of-agriculture-in-partnership-with-usda-announces-resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program-grant-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Department of Agriculture in Partnership with USDA Announces Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grant Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"27904\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2024\/01\/08\/maryland-department-of-agriculture-in-partnership-with-usda-announces-resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program-grant-opportunities\/attachment\/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program-grants-announcement\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?fit=940%2C788&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"940,788\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants Announcement\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?fit=760%2C637&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-27904\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?resize=300%2C251\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?resize=300%2C251&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?resize=768%2C644&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/01\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program-Grants-Announcement.png?w=940&amp;ssl=1 940w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\"><strong>ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 8, 2024)<\/strong>&#8211; The <strong>Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/strong> is currently accepting applications for the <strong>Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program<\/strong> designed to assist in strengthening Maryland\u2019s food supply chain between farmers and consumers by investing in infrastructure. The department has received $3.8 million through USDA\u2019s RFSI program to administer and facilitate a competitive subaward grant process.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">\u201cWe are pleased to partner with USDA to offer grants in such a critical space,\u201d said <strong>Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks<\/strong>. \u201cThe department is aware that many farms and aquaculture operations are in need of this kind of support and we look forward to the projects that will come from this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">RFSI Projects are expected to expand capacity for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products including, but not limited to, specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other value-added food products. Projects should expand middle-of-the food supply chain capacity and offer more and better market opportunities to small and mid-sized agricultural producers, to include underserved producers that lack access to value-added opportunities or processing to meet market demand for premium or value-added products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">The RFSI Program has two grant tracks: The Equipment-only Grant and Infrastructure Grant. Applicants may only apply for one track.\u00a0<strong>Grant applications are due by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, March 15.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\"><strong>Equipment-Only Grants<\/strong> range from $10,000 up to $100,000; This fixed price grant can only fund equipment and should fit the scope and goals of the RFSI program. No match is required for Equipment-Only Grants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\"><strong>Infrastructure Grants<\/strong> range from $100,000 up to $3 million. This grant can fund capital investments such as construction, equipment (e.g. delivery vehicles, frozen or refrigerated storage, value-added food processing equipment, or other equipment for middle-of-the food supply chain activities), and building renovations. Infrastructure Grants can also fund facility design or engineering, staff time, modernizing systems (e.g. tracking, storage, information technology, etc.), plan development (e.g. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan), and market development. A match is required for Infrastructure Grants and starts at 50% of the total project cost. However, if the main applicant qualifies as underserved, the match requirement will be reduced to 25% of the total project cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\"><strong>MARBIDCO<\/strong> has partnered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to provide matching funds for this program.\u00a0 If eligible, MARBIDCO\u2019s funds can be used to help the grant applicant&#8217;s meet their non-federal match requirement if the project involves the aggregation of local farm products for wholesale or institutional sales. More specifically:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">For historically underserved farmers, ranchers or other businesses that qualify under SBA categories of small, disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, or veteran-owned<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">small business- grant of up to 100% match, up to a maximum of $50,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"list-style-type: disc\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">For all other eligible applicants- grants of up to 50% match, up to a maximum of $50,000, with this exception: If a unit of local government, rural regional council, or county school system is the applicant, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">the maximum award could be up to $400,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marbidco.org\/\">MARBIDCO\u2019s RSFI<\/a> matching grant application form will be posted on its website on February 1, 2024. The deadline for submission will be February 29, 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">An informational Zoom <a href=\"https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/tZUrcu6rrDIrH9Jo1YIhaOVriMEkmQ6gpBGS\">webinar<\/a> about the RFSI program and grants will be held at 3 p.m. on January 24, 2024. Virtual office hours, for prospective applicants to connect with Maryland Department of Agriculture representatives, are scheduled for February 7 and February 21 at 10 a.m. Registration is required for each session.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">For RFSI program information, application details, and webinar registration, please visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mda.maryland.gov\/maryland_products\/Pages\/Resilient-Food-Systems-Infrastructure-Program.aspx\">MDA.Maryland.gov<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">For questions or more information about Maryland\u2019s RFSI Program and the application process, please contact Karen Fedor at\u00a0rfsi.mda<a href=\"mailto:karen.fedor@maryland.gov\">@maryland.gov<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0410-841-5773.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">###\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', serif\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 8, 2024)&#8211; The Maryland Department of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program designed to assist in strengthening Maryland\u2019s food supply chain between farmers and consumers by investing in infrastructure. The department has received $3.8 million through USDA\u2019s RFSI program to administer and facilitate a competitive subaward<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2024\/01\/08\/maryland-department-of-agriculture-in-partnership-with-usda-announces-resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program-grant-opportunities\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":222,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27903"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27922,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27903\/revisions\/27922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}