RFSI Equipment-Only Grants

The NYS Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) Equipment-Only Grant Program is a funding opportunity administered by the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYS AGM). This program is part of a larger USDA initiative under the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) aimed at strengthening local and regional food systems through targeted infrastructure investments. The FFGF, an organization committed to fostering economic development within the Northeast Foodshed, manages the competitive sub-awards process, coordinating closely with USDA and NYS AGM to promote regional supply chain resilience and create economic opportunities for small and mid-sized agricultural producers. The purpose of the Equipment-Only Grant is to support the acquisition of specialized equipment used in middle-of-the-food-supply-chain operations such as aggregation, processing, storing, transporting, and distributing food products. Eligible food products include specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, land-based aquaculture, and near-shore shellfish, but explicitly exclude meat and poultry. Applicants may apply for between $30,000 and $100,000 in funding. While the grant does not require matching funds, applicants must show their ability to cover any additional costs for equipment exceeding the $100,000 cap. For example, if an equipment item costs $140,000, the applicant must demonstrate access to the remaining $40,000 at the time of application. To be eligible, applicants must be entities operating within New York State, including for-profit agricultural producers or processors, nonprofit organizations, tribal and local government entities, and institutions such as schools and hospitals that engage in middle-of-the-supply-chain food activities. All applicants must be domestically owned and based in New York. Additionally, applicants must possess or plan to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), as required for all federal grant recipients. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. Importantly, the grant funds are only reimbursable upon full equipment payment and installation, and applicants must provide quotes and supporting documentation as part of the submission. Applications will be accepted exclusively through the FFGF’s SurveyMonkey Apply (SMA) portal from July 7, 2025, to July 23, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. ET. No late or incomplete submissions will be considered. Applicants will receive email confirmation upon successful submission. All submissions will be scored by a panel of experts in agricultural business and supply chain operations. Projects are assessed based on criteria such as readiness, alignment with state priorities (including support for dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic industries), projected market and community impact, and the strength of supporting documentation. Applications scoring below 65 points will not be considered for funding. Eligible expenses are limited strictly to specialized equipment valued at $5,000 or more per unit and directly tied to middle-of-the-supply-chain activities. Ineligible expenses include equipment for agricultural production or retail activities, administrative overhead, software, solar panels, and costs for equipment installation unless included in a vendor quote. Additional required documentation includes NEPA environmental screening, landlord letters for leased facilities, quotes for equipment, and letters of support and commitment from stakeholders. Applicants must also demonstrate the existence of all critical infrastructure needed to complete the project and submit a detailed budget justification. Contact information for the program includes Nina Merritt (rfsi@ffgrowthfund.org), who serves as the Grants and Program Manager, and Duane Stanton (also reachable at rfsi@ffgrowthfund.org), the Project Coordinator available for technical assistance in the SMA portal. Assistance is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Project announcements are expected in Fall 2025, following USDA final approval. All selected projects will be required to enter into a formal grant agreement with FFGF and submit a final report, including expenditure documentation, within 30 days of project completion.

Submit all required documentation (equipment quotes, letters, permits) and ensure project readiness. No late submissions accepted. Use the SMA system for submissions and expect delayed responses near deadline.