USDA Dedicates $400 Million to New Regional Food Business Centers in High-Need Areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of approximately $400 million to provide local and regional food systems coordination, technical assistance and capacity building services through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Regional Food Business Centers, which will be located mostly in high-need areas that have limited resources.

“The USDA Regional Food Business Centers will be a new, critical asset as we continue our work to strengthen and enhance local and regional food systems across the nation,” said Vilsack. “Regional Food Business Centers will serve as USDA’s cornerstone in the development of the local and regional supply chains, building on lessons learned during the pandemic, providing technical assistance and creating new market opportunities in areas where the need is greatest.”

USDA will fund at least six regional centers, including a national tribal center and at least one center serving each of three targeted areas: colonias (counties on the United States/Mexico border); persistent poverty or other communities of high need/limited resources areas of the Delta and the Southeast; and high-need areas of Appalachia, as well as centers in other regions of the country.

The centers will provide coordination, technical assistance and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state and local resources in an effort to close gaps or barriers to success. They will assist small and mid-sized producers and food and farm businesses with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse and competitive food system.

“USDA is committed to supporting smaller producers, processors and distributors to diversify economic opportunities in underserved communities,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The USDA Regional Food Business Centers will decrease barriers and improve supply chain linkages for producers, processors and distributors and strengthen regional food systems networks and partnerships in response to hardships and vulnerabilities exposed by recent national emergencies, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.”

APPLICATIONS. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a Request for Applications (RFA) for the program. Applicants must define the regions that their proposed Regional Food Business Center will serve, specifying high-needs priority areas within that region.

The centers serving these high-need areas will identify farm-to-market linkages across its proposed geographic area to reach a variety of markets. Further guidance on applications is available in the RFA.

Applications to lead a Regional Food Business Center must come from a partnership consisting of three or more eligible entities representing at least two of the eligible entity types. Eligible entities 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.

AMS encourages applications for initiatives that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers and underserved communities. For more information about grant eligibility, visit the Regional Food Business Centers Program webpage, or email RegionalFoodCenters@usda.gov.

AMS also offers technical assistance for new applicants to help walk them through the process and provide tips on writing a successful application. Contact RegionalFoodCenters@usda.gov for additional assistance.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by Nov. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.