Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Program
Through March 29, 2024, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is working with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to offer $7.1 million in competitive grant funding to Georgia projects designed to build resilience within local and regional food systems, fostering economic growth and creating new opportunities for Georgia's farmers and food producers.
The grants are being offered under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program. Grants offered through the RFSI Program will support various initiatives aimed at improving the capacity and infrastructure involved in processing, storing, and distributing locally and regionally produced food. Priority will be given to projects involving dairy, grains, fruits, vegetables, dry beans, and aquaculture, as well as those submitted by farmer- and worker-owned enterprises and cooperatives.
Who is eligible for grant consideration?
Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors (including cooperatives or associations);
Small for-profit businesses;
Nonprofit organizations;
Local and tribal government entities;
Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals.
Additional consideration will be given to eligible applicants who are historically underserved farmers and ranchers, small and underserved business owners, and other businesses that qualify under the U.S. Small Business Administration categories of small, disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, and veteran-owned small businesses.
Who is ineligible for grant consideration?
Products including meat, poultry, wild-caught seafood, dietary supplements, tobacco, and food for animal consumption do not qualify for this program.
Floriculture, ornamental trees, and cannabis, as they're not intended for human consumption.
Businesses may have the above-listed product lines, but grant funds cannot be used to benefit these products.
All applicants for the Georgia RFSI Program must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number as part of their application process. The UEI is a requirement for all entities receiving federal financial assistance and serves as a standard identifier for doing business with the U.S. Government.
How to Apply
For complete program details join Georgia Organics and the USDA Georgia Department of Agriculture for a grant briefing webinar on Mar. 19. Registration is free and required to attend. During this time Matthew Kulinski will walk potential applicants through the grant process and answer any lingering questions.
To obtain or verify your UEI number, please visit the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration . Obtaining a UEI number is free but essential for ensuring you’re eligible for the RFSI grant. Please ensure that your SAM registration is current and active at the time of application and throughout the grant period. Applicants can also be in the process of obtaining a valid UEI to qualify.
To download the application, visit the GDA's website at www.georgiarfsi.com.
Grant Deadline
Applications for this opportunity will be accepted on the GDA’s website until 5 p.m. on March 29, 2024.
Please email any questions to RFSI@agr.georgia.gov or call Matthew Kulinski at 404-656-3680 or Happy Wyatt at 478-365-2372.