By Blake Jackson
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball has announced the launch of $1 million in grant funding available for farm and food businesses to purchase essential post-harvest equipment.
Offered through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program, this funding is part of a broader initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service to strengthen New York’s food supply chain.
“These equipment-only grants are the second round of funding in the RFSI program, aimed at strengthening and investing in New York’s food systems,” said Commissioner Ball. “Purchasing critical new equipment will be a game changer for so many farm and food businesses and will allow them to connect more New Yorkers to fresh, local foods. I thank all our partners for their work moving this progressive programming forward and look forward to seeing the impact these projects have on our communities.”
This second round specifically supports projects that focus on expanding equipment capacity without involving construction or major operational changes. Awards will range from $30,000 to $100,000 per project.
The application window opens on July 7, 2025, and closes on July 23, 2025. All equipment must be purchased by December 31, 2025.
“This second round of RFSI funding offers an opportunity for those who may have important projects that do not include construction or significant operational changes, but are smaller, and slated only for equipment expansions and upgrades," Farm and Food Growth Fund President and CEO Todd Erling said.
"It also allows that for those who were not successful in the very competitive Infrastructure round to apply for the Equipment-Only round and still have meaningful impact on our food system."
Eligible expenses include equipment used for processing, aggregating, manufacturing, storing, transporting, and distributing food products grown or produced in New York.
There is no matching fund requirement, and preference will be given to projects benefiting multiple producers and markets.
Applications must be submitted through the Farm and Food Growth Fund Application Portal at http://ffgf.smapply.us/. For assistance in Spanish, Arabic, or Mandarin, applicants may contact gaby@tierravivacollective.org.
Full details and live support sessions are available on the Department’s and Farm and Food Growth Fund’s websites.
Photo Credit: pexels-aiselin82
Categories: New York, Government & Policy