AgLink Continuity Grant

The AgLink Continuity Grant, administered by the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA) under the Texas Department of Agriculture, is designed to support the operational stability of critical agricultural infrastructure facilities in Texas that are indirectly impacted by natural disasters. The grant targets businesses such as cotton gins, grain warehouses, rice dryers, and similar operations that play a pivotal role in the processing, storage, and marketing of raw agricultural commodities. While these businesses do not produce raw agricultural goods themselves, they provide essential links in the supply chain. Following a natural disaster, they can suffer financially due to reduced commodity volumes, yet their continued operation is critical for future agricultural recovery and economic resilience. The program provides reimbursement-based funding to help stabilize cash flow, preserve employment, and ensure these facilities can maintain services during periods of reduced agricultural output. This includes support for operational continuity and implementation of sustainability or efficiency improvements. AgLink fills a crucial gap, as these facilities typically do not qualify for traditional forms of disaster assistance or insurance, despite being key nodes in the agricultural ecosystem. Eligible applicants must be agriculture-related businesses located and headquartered in Texas that take possession of raw commodities directly from producers for purposes such as storage, initial processing, or marketing. In order to qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial hardship resulting from decreased production in their service area, and must not be producers themselves. In addition, the principal owners of the applying business must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens, and applicants must commit to a 10% cash match on awarded funds. The maximum award available per applicant is $500,000, with a required 10% match. All funding is issued on a reimbursement basis, meaning grantees must first incur and pay eligible expenses before requesting repayment. A small advance (up to 5% of the total award) may be granted upon sufficient justification. Grant funds may not be used for land acquisition, debt repayment, or general operating expenses unrelated to the approved project. The program permits reimbursement for specialized equipment if pre-approved, with reporting and inventory requirements applying. Applications must be submitted through the TDA-GO grants portal. Registration in the portal is mandatory and must be completed at least 72 hours before the application deadline. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified unless requested by the agency during the review process. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central Time. Applicants should be prepared for a review timeline of approximately 16–20 weeks from the deadline, after which all applicants will be notified of their funding status. Evaluation criteria include completeness of the application, documentation of disaster-related impact, financial need, sustainability planning, and regional significance. Only one application may be submitted per business, but multiple projects may be included within that application if they pertain to different facilities. This grant is highly competitive, and submission does not guarantee funding. For assistance, applicants may contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at [email protected] or call (833) 380-8282. The full FAQ and instructions can be found in the official Request for Grant Applications and accompanying documents.