Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for produce processing.

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.

The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is a part of USDA’s Build Back Better initiative to strengthen&#x2004;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.



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.

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

- Fact Sheet
- Federal Register Notice
- Frequently Asked Questions

Public Health

Compliance

Infrastructure

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

Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for FSCSC by working directly with the Farm Service Agency office at their local USDA Service Center. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.  
The following forms are needed to apply for FSCSC (Available below):
- FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program Application: (available soon) This form includes a certification of the applicant’s status as a specialty crop operation and a small or very small business, and their eligible expenses. Complete the form according to the FSA-888 instructions.
- AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet
- SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form
- CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification (if applicable)
- Supporting Documentation, if requested: Please note that applicants may be required to provide additional documentation to the Farm Service Agency, if necessary, to substantiate the expenses reported on the application. Examples of supporting documentation include paid invoices, purchase receipts, test results, food safety plans, and certifications, training documentation, and other records determined acceptable by FSA.

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in&#x2004;calendar years in 2022 or 2023. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements. 

FSCSC provides up to $200 million to specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and/or 2023. For each year, FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.



The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years in 2022 or 2023. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements. 
FSCSC provides up to $200 million to specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and/or 2023. For each year, FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:
- Have obtained or renewed a:
    - 2022 food safety certification that was issued between June 21, 2022 and December 31, 2022; or
    - 2023 food safety certification issued during the 2023 calendar year, and 
- Have paid eligible expenses. Expenses that have been incurred by the applicant, but have not yet been paid, will not be eligible.
- Be a specialty crop operation; and meet the definition of a small business or very small business.
    - A small business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000. 
    - A very small business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of no more than $250,000.
- Be located in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Frequently Asked Questions about the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
- Notice of Funds Availability: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
- Fact Page

The Council may make a grant or loan if it determines a project is consistent with the goals of the Growth Through Agriculture Act. Projects should primarily add value to Montana's agricultural products and have the potential to create and/or retain jobs in Montana.

BEFORE beginning the application process, the applicant should be able to document exactly how the project will expand Montana agriculture (e.g., increased sales by dollar amount or percentage, or number of jobs created).

Projects may potentially be funded in a single application for a maximum total amount of $150,000 in the form of grant funding up to $50,000 and loan funding up to $100,000. A $1 for $1 match is required for all proposals.

FY2026 Priority Areas:
- Projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to expanding access to diversified marketplaces
- Projects that can demonstrate a significant impact on the applicant's scalability
- Projects that can demonstrate increased access to local foods with a focus in rural areas (including rural grocery stores)
- Businesses that help strengthen supply chains and market access for rural areas (rural area = fewer than 10,000 people)

Important Dates:
- October 10, 2025 - GTA Pre-application opens
- November 10, 2025 - Pre-application deadline (5:00pm)
- Early December 2025 - Council meeting to select pre-applicants for full application
- Mid-December 2025 - Full application opens
- February 2, 2026 - Full applications due (5:00pm)
- Early March 2026 - Council meeting to review/award GTA applications

If you have questions, email gta@mt.gov.

 Food and Agriculture Development Center

Montana Small Business Development Center

MT Growth Through Agricultural Program

The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program established by the Montana Legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through the development of new agricultural products and processes. Examples of eligible project activities involve equipment purchases, construction costs, advertising and promotion, and consultant services for engineering. The&#x2004;GTA program is administered by the Agriculture Development Council (Council) which is attached to the Department of Agriculture.


For Current GTA and BAM Recipients: We are holding quarterly Technical Assistance calls to go over claim submission, reporting, and any other TA questions you have as you progress with your grant and/or loan. These calls will be held at 11:30am on the last Tuesday of the quarter. 

For 2026, the calls are scheduled for March 31, June 30, September 29, and December 29.


[Growth Through Agriculture Program Guidelines](https://agr.mt.gov/_docs/GTA-docs/GTAGuidelines.pdf)



The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program established by the Montana Legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through the development of new agricultural products and processes. Examples of eligible project activities involve equipment purchases, construction costs, advertising and promotion, and consultant services for engineering. The GTA program is administered by the Agriculture Development Council (Council) which is attached to the Department of Agriculture.

For Current GTA and BAM Recipients: We are holding quarterly Technical Assistance calls to go over claim submission, reporting, and any other TA questions you have as you progress with your grant and/or loan. These calls will be held at 11:30am on the last Tuesday of the quarter. 
For 2026, the calls are scheduled for March 31, June 30, September 29, and December 29.

Growth Through Agriculture Program Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria 
Projects should primarily add value to Montana’s agricultural products, have prospects for achieving commercial success given the current personnel, experience and resources of the applicant and have the possibility to create and/or retain jobs in Montana. In addition, projects should either benefit additional agricultural producers and/or companies, and/or projects should accomplish research that will benefit Montana’s agriculture industry as a whole. An applicant that receives any two GTA grants within a two-year period will have a one-year cooling off period before applying again, starting in the current calendar year. Please contact GTA staff for any questions on this recent adjustment. 

Eligible Costs 
Eligible costs under the GTA program include, but are not limited to: 
• Equipment 
• Consultant Services (professional, technical, operational) 
• Travel 
• Advertising and Promotion 
• Supplies and Materials 
• Communication (telephone, postage, printing, etc.) 
• Data Processing 

Who Can Apply 
Proposals for funding are accepted from: 
• Individuals 
• Businesses and Industry Organizations 
• Public and Private Agencies and Organizations 
• Educational Institutions 
• Local Governments 
• Cooperatives 
• Non-profits 

Business Registration Required 
To be eligible to receive funding your business must be registered with the Montana Secretary of State's office (www.sos.mt.gov). If your business is not registered, we encourage you to begin that process prior to submitting an application. 

Joint Applications 
Two or more individuals or organizations may propose to conduct a project jointly by submitting one application as co-applicants. Please contact program staff for procedures if you are interested in submitting a joint application. 

Joint applicants must demonstrate their team has proven ability to carry out all elements of the proposed project. In addition, applicants proposing to rely upon the expertise of another individual or organization to undertake any part of the project must clearly define the responsibilities of that party as well as provide evidence of that entity’s willingness and demonstrated ability to undertake that area of responsibility.

Additional Loan Eligibility Requirements 
The Council has the option to set loan interest rates and offer terms on awards up to $100,000. To be eligible for a low interest loan, the applicant must have unencumbered collateral to secure the full amount of the loan. 

The Council may select up to two targeted areas for projects which would be eligible for lower interest loans. These targeted areas encourage specific types of projects and will inform the public of the Council’s particular interests. Targeted areas must be announced 60 days prior to becoming effective. 

Growth Through Agriculture Program Guidelines

List of Agricultural Funding for Produce Processing