Appalachia Business Builder Award Program (RFBC)

The USDA Regional Food Business Centers support farms and food businesses to create new market opportunities, enhance competitiveness, and strengthen their regional supply chains. In partnership with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the Regional Food Business Centers are operated by lead organizations and partner networks embedded across each region. They offer technical assistance, capacity building awards, and coordinate services to catalyze the growth of regional food economies. Visit the Awarded Centers webpage for further information.

• Entities earning less than $5 Million in gross revenue as reported on their most recent tax return are eligible for this round of BBS funding.

• **This award can be used for: ** staff time, business planning activities, software implementation, the purchase of specialized equipment (such as food safety or processing equipment), value chain and supply chain coordination, product development, marketing, supply chain analysis and strategy development. Additionally, projects focused on developing shared use kitchens and processing spaces, alternative forms of retail (such as a co-operative), food aggregation or distribution and other mid-tier food-related projects that will serve or are based in a distressed community are also encouraged to apply.

• **This award cannot be used for: ** purchasing or leasing land, buildings, or real estate, the construction, renovation, demolition, or rehabilitation of any building, structure, or land, non-specialized equipment such as tractors, trucks, or trailers. 

• Application Checklist

Interested in applying? You could get a subscription to Ambrook subsidized by this grant. This grant covers software costs for financial management and bookkeeping tools - Ambrook helps you track your income and expenses, by enterprise, so you can run a financially sustainable business. Questions? Go to ambrook.com to learn more or contact sherry@ambrook.com to incorporate this into your grant.