Illinois Department of Agriculture RFSI

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

section 10107 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-343 (the Farm Bill).

section 10107 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-343 (the Farm Bill).

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities. RFSI provides up to $420 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to the agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. States and territories will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive subawards to support infrastructure in the middle of the supply chain for domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. States and territories may use a limited portion of funds to develop and/or strengthen supply chain coordination and targeted market development services for local and regional products.

Yes

Can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/RFSI_Specific_TermsandConditions_FY23.pdf

For-Profit Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Education Organizations; Government Organizations; Small Businesses;

Small to mid-size producers who identify as socially disadvantaged who can benefit from expanded market opportunities; Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products; Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products; Small to mid-size agricultural and food system businesses who support middle of the supply chain activities such as processing and transportation; Local government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural products

Small and Underserved Business Owners, Historically Underserved Farmers or Ranchers or for other businesses that qualify under the Small Business Administration (SBA) categories of Small Disadvantaged Business, Women Owned Small Business, and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. For projects intending to serve these entities, consumers, producers, and rural communities

Project Grants

Economic Development

Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117—2), as amended, authorizes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to make grants and agreements to maintain to improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

Grants are awarded through a competitive review process that includes the use of an independent committee of stakeholders from the agricultural community. The proposals selected are submitted to the United State Department of Agriculture for final approval as part of Illinois’ State Plan Application. If approved by the USDA for funding, the organization responsible for the successful project and the Department enter into a grant agreement. By signing the document, the grantee agrees to: 1) execute all aspects of the grant agreement according to applicable state and federal regulations (or as they may be later revised) and successive published regulations as appropriate; 2) complete activities outlined in the approved proposal, any approved revisions thereto, and the approved project budget; and 3) adhere to the RFSI Award Terms and Conditions as set forth within the grant agreement.

Please refer to the RFA for further details for submitting applications. The current RFA is available via https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program.html. Application will be submitted directly to IDOA.

Criteria for selecting proposals are within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFA. The current RFA is available via https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program.html

Grants are awarded through a competitive review process that includes the use of an independent committee of stakeholders from the agricultural community. The proposals selected are submitted to the United State Department of Agriculture for final approval as part of Illinois’ State Plan Application. If approved by the USDA for funding, the organization responsible for the successful project and the Department enter into a grant agreement. By signing the document, the grantee agrees to: 1) execute all aspects of the grant agreement according to applicable state and federal regulations (or as they may be later revised) and successive published regulations as appropriate; 2) complete activities outlined in the approved proposal, any approved revisions thereto, and the approved project budget; and 3) adhere to the RSFI Award Terms and Conditions as set forth within the grant agreement.

Deadline for the Illinois RSFI application is 3/15/2024 at 11:59 pm

Criteria for selecting proposals are within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFA. The current RFA is available via https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program.html

No formal appeal procedure.

Awards are for 3 federal fiscal years.

Infrastructure Grants are required to match 50% of the total proposed project cost. For historically underserved farmers and ranchers, or for other businesses that qualify under SBA categories of small disadvantaged business, women-owned small business, or veteran-owned small business, the required match funding contribution or cost share is reduced to 25% of the project cost.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will award funds to support projects that: 1) Enhance and establish capacities for processing, storage, aggregation, and distribution to scale up local food in Illinois; 2) Develop and enhance capacity for value-added products and cottage food entrepreneurship to meet demand for new markets and consumers; 3)Strengthen and develop organizational capacity to increase social networks and collaboration among farmers and local food supply chain actors to achieve operational efficiency and expand new market opportunities. 4) Enhance and establish on-farm sustainable/renewable energy systems for processing, storing, and value-add products while reducing food waste and ensuring food safety; 5)Historically underserved populations will be a funding priority in alignment with the goals of the RFSI program. (see below for definition of historically underserved populations) The following activities are not eligible for RFSI funding: 1) Acquiring real property (including pre-existing buildings and land purchases), or any interest therein; 2)Projects focused on meat and poultry processing or other ineligible agricultural products; 3)Activities that have received a Federal award from another Federal award program; 4)Claim expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any Federal, State, or local government funding; and 5)Projects which have already received funding from another federal grant or subaward programs may not receive funding for the same activities through an Infrastructure Grant. However, Infrastructure Grants may build on the successes of prior funding, such as the USDA Regional Food Business Centers Business Builder subawards, to fund subsequent activities. Ineligible products include meat and poultry, wild-caught seafood, exclusively animal feed and forage products, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, or dietary supplements.

Quarterly and final reports are required for all projects. Annual reports also are required if a project spans more than one year. Grantees who do not submit the reports, or who submit incomplete reports, may have funds withheld or be required to return previously distributed funds. Grantees must maintain adequate books, records and supporting documents to verify the expenditure of all grant funds for a minimum of three years after the submission of their final report.

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 For each year that a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall conduct an audit of the expenditures of grant funds by the State in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart F- Audit Requirements. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General.

Recipients must retain financial and other records relating to grant for a period of three years after the final Federal Financial Report (SF-425) is received by the Agricultural Marketing Service or until final resolution of any audit findings or litigation claims relating to this program.

USDA-AMS-TM-RFSI-C-23-0001

Obligations will be based on state fiscal year. At this time there are no estimates.

As provided for in the applicable request for applications.

At this time, there are no accomplishments posted. USDA AMS website will be updated as the accomplishments build.

Program guidelines are published in the Proposal Submission Guide, which is included in application packets and made available free of charge on the department's website at https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/grant-programs.html. Additional information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

USDA AMS 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-0216

USDA AMS 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-0216

Additional information about the program is available on the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service’s website www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi

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1/22/2024