Oklahoma Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) aims to build resilience in the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems. Funds will be granted to food and farm businesses, and other eligible entities, for projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural products.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) will prioritize funding projects focused on distribution, cold storage, and co-packing. Funding for this program is made possible by a cooperative agreement between ODAFF and the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

Entities eligible for RFSI Grants are:

• Agricultural producers or processors, or groups of agricultural producers and processors.

• Nonprofit and for-profit entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities such as processing, aggregation, or distribution of targeted agricultural products, primarily for the benefit of local and regional producers.

• Local government entities.

• Tribal governments.

• Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure, or to invest in equipment benefiting multiple producers.

Eligible projects include upgrades or new facilities for processing specific agricultural products (on-farm post-harvest processing/preservation/cold storage; cleaning and grading; aggregator warehouse/storage; freezing/cold storage equipment; canning/preserving/pasteurization; preparation and packing; drying/hulling/shelling/milling; cooking/baking/juicing/distilling/fermenting); purchasing special-purpose equipment; planning for HACCP or other food/worker safety measures; analyzing facility upgrades for regulatory compliance; and hiring term-limited personnel for implementation.

Not eligible: acquiring real property (including land); projects focused on meat and poultry processing, animal feed and forage, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, or dietary supplements; and activities already funded by another federal grant/subaward.

Infrastructure Grants range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 and must be completed in 2 years. A 50% match is required on all infrastructure grants unless the applicant qualifies as a historically underserved farmer/rancher, or as an SBA small disadvantaged, women-owned, or veteran-owned small business, in which case the match is reduced to 25% (self-certified in the application).

Equipment-Only Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 and require no match. The Equipment-Only Grant is a fixed-price grant funding only equipment purchases (not facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs); applicants must document the cost of each piece of equipment (delivery and installation may be covered if listed in the official bid).

Apply using the RFSI Infrastructure Grant Proposal Template or the RFSI Equipment-Only Grant Proposal Template (an RFSI Grant Match Calculator is also provided). Required supporting forms: Collaborator Organization Letter, Evidence of Critical Resources and Infrastructure, and Match Verification Letter.

Grants are awarded through a competitive review process. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at time of submission (register free at SAM.gov). Entities may not submit applications for both Infrastructure and Equipment-Only grants. For access to the proposal templates, email Jason Harvey at Jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov.

• ODAFF RFSI Program Grant Application Manual

• RFSI Program Grant FAQs (and updated FAQs, 2/6/24)

• RFSI Program Scope and Requirements

• RFSI Program Live Webinar (Jan. 9, 2024), Parts 1-3 (YouTube)

• Contact: Jason Harvey, Jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov, 405-606-1477