Heartland USDA Regional Food Business Center (RFBC)

**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

The overwhelming response and high quality of proposals in Round 1 has prompted changes in the Business Builder Subaward schedule.

The Heartland Center now anticipates opening in spring 2025 the next round of its Business Builder Subaward grant program. Proposals would be due in early summer 2025.

The revised grant schedule provides more time for food and farm businesses to better prepare for applications, including scheduling one-on-one assistance with regional business counselors to help work through key project details. Visit Get Help to take next steps.

Round 2 will be the final Business Builder grant opportunity. Updated application information will be available when Round 2 opens. Watch this page and sign up for email updates.

IMPORTANT: Round 2 will be the final round of Business Builder grants. No Round 3.

Steps to Take Now

• Connect with a business counselor: Visit the Get Help page to make your first connection if you have not already done so.

• Build your business case. Prepare answers to these key questions:

  • Where is your business now?

  • Where do you want to take your business?

  • How would you use Business Builder grant funds?

  • How would this investment help you achieve your goals?

  • What evidence supports this?

• Plan for reimbursement-based funding: The Business Builder Subaward is a “reimbursement grant;” it pays awardees back after they have made planned purchases. Heartland Center business counselors can help applicants explore financing options for covering upfront expenses. The grant is a secure source of loan repayment that can help banks make loans to small businesses. Get Help.

• Start your SAM.gov registration: Applicants must have an active and public “financial assistance awards” registration in the federal award management system SAM.gov before they can receive a Business Builder grant. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to complete the process prior to application submission. Registration is free and secure at https://sam.gov/. See step-by-step guidance in English and Spanish.

• Stay informed: Sign up for our newsletter to receive program updates if not already. We will also share updates on social media.

By taking these steps now, you will be well-prepared to submit a competitive application in our final Round 2.

Program Details

The Business Builder Subaward grant supports food and farm businesses that produce in, source from, and focus on local and regional markets. These grants provide capital to help businesses launch or expand while working toward sustainable income streams.

Funding Priorities

Priority projects are those that help the Heartland Center achieve its desired outcomes:

• Strengthen regional food systems and partnerships, addressing challenges revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Create and expand market opportunities for small and mid-size producers and processors.

• Increase sourcing from local producers by distributors, retailers, and foodservice buyers.

• Support the launch of new food and farm businesses and improve existing ones.

• Boost revenue for food and farm businesses or increase local food capacity in communities served.

Eligible for the Business Builder grant are small food and farm businesses or nonprofit enterprises located in or serving the Heartland Center’s five-state region (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska) or nine counties in northwest Arkansas (Benton, Carroll, Boone, Washington, Madison, Newton, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson).