Hawaii Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI)

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is designed to develop and administer state-coordinated initiatives that enhance resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain operations while strengthening local and regional food systems. The Hawaii RFSI Program, allocated with $2,587,480 in funding, prioritizes expanding capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of specific agricultural products (including eggs and honey but excluding meat and poultry). In partnership with the USDA-AMS, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) conducted a competitive solicitation process to distribute funds across two grant categories.

Eligibility is open to domestically owned entities with facilities physically located within the State of Hawaii, including: agricultural producers or processors, and groups thereof; nonprofit organizations engaged in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities; for-profit entities involved in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities (with a primary focus on local and regional producer benefit, meeting SBA small business size standards); local government entities; tribal governments; and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that facilitate collaboration among producers or invest in equipment to benefit multiple producers.

Infrastructure Grants range from a minimum award of $100,000 to a maximum award of $500,000, with a 50% matching fund requirement (certain historically underserved groups may qualify for a reduced match of 25%); the total available for Infrastructure Grants is $1,587,480. Simplified Equipment-Only Grants range from a minimum award of $10,000 to a maximum award of $100,000, with no matching fund requirement; the total available is $1,000,000. The Simplified Equipment-Only Grant is a fixed price grant, funding only equipment purchases, with the amount awarded equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000.

A completed e-copy of the relevant application (Infrastructure or Simplified Equipment-Only) and supporting documents had to be emailed to the HDOA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. RFA posted Thursday, January 18, 2024; deadline for submissions 12:00 P.M. (Noon) HST, Monday, February 26, 2024; Notice of Awards April 2024 (estimate). All applicants must be a legal entity with a Unique Entity ID.