2024 AFS Grant for Feature Films in Texas

The Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program in Vermont is a cooperative agreement between the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This program is designed to strengthen the middle-of-the-supply-chain for Vermont food products, fostering resilience and economic development within the state's agricultural sector. The overarching mission is to promote value-added products, ensure fair prices and wages, create safe job opportunities, and keep profits within rural communities. This aligns with a broader strategic goal of enhancing food system infrastructure and supporting local and regional markets. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are diverse and include agricultural producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities, and hospitals. For-profit entities that meet Small Business Administration (SBA) small business size standards and primarily benefit local and regional producers are also eligible. The program specifically emphasizes underserved communities and small and medium-sized enterprises. The impact goals are centered around increasing and diversifying processing capacity, improving aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of Vermont food products. It also aims to address gaps in pandemic assistance and existing USDA grant programs to bolster the agricultural supply chain. The RFSI grant program prioritizes projects that improve job quality through increased wages, benefits, and worker safety and well-being. A significant focus is placed on small and medium-sized enterprises that expand services and product offerings, particularly those with an emphasis on value-added products. Demonstrating local support for the project is a key criterion, as is submission by cooperatives, farmer, and worker-owned enterprises. These priorities reflect a strategic intent to not only strengthen infrastructure but also to foster equitable and community-driven agricultural development. Approximately $2,000,000 will be available for infrastructure projects, with individual grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. These grants are set to run from fall 2024 through February 2027, allowing for sustained project implementation. The expected outcomes include a more robust and diversified food system in Vermont, increased local and regional market access for Vermont food products, and enhanced economic opportunities for agricultural businesses and workers. Measurable results will likely include metrics related to increased processing capacity, job creation and quality improvements, the number of value-added products developed, and the reach of local and regional distribution networks. The underlying theory of change is that by strategically investing in critical food system infrastructure and supporting key stakeholders, Vermont can build a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous agricultural future.