Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loans

The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is a part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative to strengthen critical supply chains and our food system. This program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. This program is fully funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Eligible borrowers must be directly engaged in the middle of the food supply chain, specifically the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of food. Examples of the types of entities that may qualify for the program include a meat processor or a food hub. As a borrower, your lender will work with you to verify your project qualifies.

Loans can not be used for

• Lines of credit

• Owner-occupied and rental housing

• Golf courses or golf course supporting infrastructure

• Racetracks or gambling facilities

• Churches or church-controlled organizations

• Fraternal organizations

• Lending, investment, and insurance companies

• Agricultural production

• Distribution or payment to a beneficiary of the borrower, or to an individual or entity that will retain an ownership interest in the borrower

Borrowers should talk to their preferred lender to determine if the lender is approved through the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. If you have no preferred lender, contact your local RD office at the details above for assistance with identifying a participating lender.

• Fact Sheet

• Federal Register Notice

• Frequently Asked Questions