Rhode Island Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants

The Rhode Island Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2026 is administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), Division of Agriculture. Established in 2012 through an innovative public-private partnership between the State of Rhode Island, the Van Buren Charitable Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Rhode Island Foundation, the LASA Grant Program continues to be funded by the State of Rhode Island. Its mission is to support the growth, development, and marketing of locally produced food and seafood throughout Rhode Island, thereby strengthening the state’s agricultural and aquaculture industries and promoting a sustainable, locally-based food system. The FY2026 LASA Grant Program provides approximately $450,000 in available funding. Applicants may request up to $20,000 per grant, with a project duration of up to 24 months. Overhead and administrative costs are capped at 10% of the total project budget. The program’s funding priorities for this round include supporting underinvested, beginning, small, women, and veteran agricultural and aquaculture producers and fishers; developing new marketing, distribution, and sales channels; enhancing value-added processing capacity; fostering cooperative partnerships; and advancing climate-smart agriculture and food safety improvements. Projects aimed at protecting agricultural land availability, facilitating succession planning, or supporting second-generation farmers are also encouraged. Funds may not be used for general operating costs, non-project related travel, advocacy efforts, or conference attendance. Eligibility is open to for-profit farmers, fishers, producer groups, and nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island. However, for-profit farmers are prioritized for funding. Capital grants are restricted to small or beginning farmers and aquaculture producers. Applicants must be compliant with all federal, state, and local regulations, and previous LASA grantees who failed to meet reporting obligations or performance requirements are ineligible. The LASA Advisory Committee, chaired by the Chief of the Division of Agriculture, evaluates applications and makes recommendations to the RIDEM Director based on defined scoring criteria totaling 60 points, including program strength, budget justification, feasibility, alignment with funding priorities, and inclusion of letters of support. Applications open on October 6, 2025, and close on December 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM through the State of Rhode Island’s eCivis Grant Management System. RIDEM will not accept late or incomplete submissions. Applicants can access guidance through a technical assistance webinar hosted by the Rhode Island Food Policy Council on October 20, 2025, at 4 PM via Zoom, with one-on-one support available by contacting lasahelp@rifoodcouncil.org or 401-255-8159. Award decisions are expected by March 2026, followed by grant agreements in April 2026. All funds must be obligated by June 30, 2026, and projects completed by June 30, 2028. Final reports, including project documentation and outcome verification, must be submitted by August 31, 2028. Successful applicants must sign a grant agreement with RIDEM before receiving funding. The Department issues 100% of funds upon receipt of a signed agreement, invoice submission, and any required permits. Only costs incurred during the grant period are eligible for reimbursement. Grantees are required to submit interim and final reports; failure to comply will result in ineligibility for future funding. All project materials submitted to RIDEM become part of the public record under Rhode Island General Laws Title 38, Chapter 2, with personal and financial details redacted for confidentiality. Additional funding opportunities and related programs are available through RIDEM and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for complementary conservation or infrastructure projects.

Attend the technical assistance webinar and review the eCivis User Guide.