Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), under the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, administers the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program to support strategic capital investments that enhance food security and improve resilience throughout the Commonwealth’s food supply chain. The FY27 funding round (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) continues this mission, with a heightened focus on ensuring underserved and under-resourced communities gain equitable access to affordable, nutritious, and locally produced food. This program funds projects that strengthen local food production, expand processing and distribution capacity, and fortify the state’s ability to withstand supply chain disruptions caused by emergencies or climate events. FSIG FY27 provides reimbursement-based grants ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, segmented into Simplified Projects ($10K–$150K) and Standard Projects ($151K–$500K). All applicants must contribute a 20% cash match toward eligible project costs. Funding is limited to capital improvements that result in durable infrastructure supporting food production, aggregation, processing, storage, or distribution. Examples include climate adaptation structures, cold storage, food recovery equipment, and facility upgrades for commercial or noncommercial entities. However, operating expenses, planning studies, food purchases, and used equipment are ineligible. Proposals for routine maintenance or administrative costs are also excluded. Eligible applicants include a wide array of Massachusetts-based entities, both commercial and noncommercial. These include agricultural operations (as defined in M.G.L. c. 128 §1A), seafood and aquaculture businesses, food hubs, processors, distributors, emergency food providers, educational and healthcare institutions, municipalities, tribal governments, and Native-led nonprofits. Applicants must have been in operation for at least three consecutive years. Specific compliance conditions apply to Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) lands and produce farms, which must meet MDAR's regulatory and safety requirements. Applications must be submitted online by 4:00 PM on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the official grant webpage. No hard copy or email submissions will be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to review the full Request for Responses (RFR) and utilize MDAR’s Eligibility Tool. Required submission materials include a detailed budget, vendor quotes, and for larger requests, feasibility studies, community benefit evidence, and letters of support. For projects over $151,000, documentation of match commitment and strategic need is mandatory. All applications are evaluated based on need, alignment with state food system priorities, feasibility, sustainability, and expected outcomes. Priority is given to projects addressing food access for under-resourced communities and those that have not received prior FSIG funding. Evaluation includes a three-step review: administrative screening, scoring based on criteria, and potential site visits to assess feasibility and alignment. Contracts are expected to begin in summer 2026, with all project work and expenditures to be completed by June 30, 2027. Applicants may submit questions by April 20, 2026. MDAR will post a final Q&A document by April 24. Informational resources, including a pre-recorded webinar and templates, are made available on the program site. Contact for the program is Holly Velleca at [email protected]. Award announcements are anticipated in Summer 2026, with all grant reimbursements issued based on approved deliverables and submitted documentation.

Prioritize under-resourced communities and provide data-supported outcomes; document clear alignment with project types; ensure complete and timely submission