The USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI). The initiative is designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by enhancing resilience in middle-of-the-supply-chain operations. The US Virgin Islands RFSI Program has been allocated $2,070,798 to support eligible projects.
The purpose of the program is to expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. The program excludes wild caught fish, meat, and poultry. Applicants may apply for either Infrastructure Grants or Simplified Equipment-Only Grants, but not both.
Infrastructure Grants provide funding between $100,000 and $500,000 and require a 50% matching fund, though historically underserved groups may qualify for a reduced 25% match. Simplified Equipment-Only Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 and do not require a matching fund. Funds will be disbursed no earlier than March 2025, and projects must be completed by December 2026.
Eligible activities include modernizing processing and manufacturing equipment and facilities, expanding processing capacity, improving packaging and storage, supporting climate-smart equipment, and enhancing worker safety. The program will not fund land acquisition, projects already funded by other federal programs, or meat and poultry processing.
Applicants must provide supporting documents, including a Match Verification Template Letter, Evidence of Critical Resource Infrastructure Template Letter, Letters of Support, Infrastructure Plans, and Equipment Quotes, Contracts, and Pricing. The opportunity is open only to entities in the US Virgin Islands involved in relevant food system activities. Specific eligible entity types are not explicitly listed.
No specific contact name, email, or phone number is provided in the current program materials. The program is expected to open in early 2025, with projects required to be completed by the end of 2026.
