Overview
The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience across the middle of the state’s food supply chain for food crops. For this program, “middle of the food supply chain” refers to activities and operations that occur in between post-harvesting of food crops and before food goods are being sold at a store or market, excluding the marketing of food products or services.
The RFSI program will offer two grant types, Equipment-Only and Infrastructure grants, to eligible entities to support the expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
RFSI is intended to improve upon, provide new, and/or create more diverse, local, and regional market options for locally or regionally produced food in Texas; as well as create more economic opportunities and resiliency for communities, allowing them to retain more of the value chain dollar.
The program also aims to:
• Support development of value-added products available to consumers;
• Support proposals that provide fair prices, fair wages and new and safe job opportunities that keep profits in rural communities; and
• Increase diversity in processing options in terms of business model approaches, geography, and availability to underserved communities.
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will prioritize grant applications that benefit the following:
• Underutilized farmers and ranchers;
• New and beginning farmers or ranchers;
• Veteran producers;
• Processors and other middle-of-the-supply businesses owned by individuals that qualify
under Small Business Administration (SBA) defined categories*
*Additional details will be defined in the Official Request for Grant Applications document
Who is eligible?
• Agricultural producers or processors or groups of producers/processors
• Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities
• Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities
• Tribal government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities
• Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish
Is there a cost share or match required?
Equipment-Only Grants: no match required. Infrastructure Grants:
cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers
• 50% of the total project cost; or
• 25% of the total project cost, for underutilized farmers or for other businesses that qualify under Small
Business Administration (SBA) defined categories*
*Additional details will be defined in the Official Request for Grant Applications document
What can I use the funding for?
RFSI will focus on funding Equipment-Only and Infrastructure Grants with activities that:
• Expand capacity for processing, aggregation and distribution of agricultural products to create more and better markets for producers;
• Support development of value-added products available to consumers;
• Modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
• Enhance worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements;
• Improve the capacity of entities to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements;
• Improve operations through training opportunities, including training on the use of all equipment
purchased under the grant;
• Support the purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles;
• Modernize or expand an existing facility (including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and/or construction of new buildings at existing facilities);
• Support construction of a new facility for middle-of-the-supply-chain activities;
• Support construction of wastewater management structures, etc.;
• Modernize processing and manufacturing equipment through upgrades, repairs, or retooling;
• Develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals;
• Increase storage space, including cold storage
More information
Visit the RFSI web page at: https://www.texasagriculture.gov/RFSI
Contact us
For questions about the RFSI program, please email FoodSystems@TexasAgriculture.gov.