CDFA RECEIVES $38 MILLION FROM USDA FOR RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS PROJECTS AND IS NOW ACCEPTING GRANT PROPOSALS

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SACRAMENTO, December 13, 2023 - CDFA has received $38 million from the USDA for the new Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).
 
The program will provide grants to support the middle of the supply chain -- processing, aggregation, and/or distribution activities – for domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. The program will also support food system crops and products meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products, which are funded through other USDA programs). 
 
“We’ve learned a great deal in the last several years about challenges at various places in the supply chain,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We appreciate the foresight and commitment of the USDA to strengthen our food systems at all points.”  
 
Eligibility for RFSI funding includes agricultural producers and processors--including groups of producers and processors--as well as non-profit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions that operate in the middle-of-the-supply-chain.  CDFA will fund projects that address the following priorities:
 
•    Projects submitted directly by growers, producers, processors, shippers, etc.
•    Projects that benefit historically underserved or socially disadvantaged farmers, as well as small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, or veteran-owned businesses.
•    Projects that enhance worker safety or facilitate compliance with the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
•    Projects that enhance traceability capacity to comply with the Food Traceability Rule.
•    Construction and infrastructure projects that demonstrate feasibility that the projects can reasonably be completed within the grant duration.
•    Projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase water savings.
•    Projects that facilitate training opportunities, including trainings related to food safety, process modernization, and use of equipment or enhanced facilities funded through RFSI.
 
Examples of eligible activities include:
 
•    Expanding processing capacities, including adding product types, increasing production volumes, and supporting new wholesale/retail product lines
•    Purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles
•    Enhancing worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements
•    Developing, customizing, or installing climate‐smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals
•    Modernizing equipment or facilities to ensure food safety, including associated Hazard, Analysis, and Critical Control Points (HACCP) consultation, plan development, and employee training
 
In addition to grant funding, CDFA will use up to $1 million from RFSI to support supply chain coordination through a variety of activities, and up to $3 million for technical assistance to farmers and food businesses.
 
Please review the Request for Concept Proposals for details on the program, eligibility requirements, program priorities, and application instructions. All applicants must register online with AmpliFund to apply. Proposals must be submitted electronically using AmpliFund by Friday, February 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. PT. 
 
CDFA will conduct a series of webinars and office hours featuring an overview of the program, a review of proposal questions, and a demonstration of the AmpliFund application system. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit CDFA’s RFSI website(https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi/) for full details; contact CDFA’s Office of Grants Administration at grants@cdfa.ca.gov or call (916) 657-3231 for additional information.

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