Rio Grande Colonias 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 Rio Grande Colonias Center will facilitate the application process for and distribution of two different grant tracks to eligible small and mid-sized food producers and food businesses in Texas and New Mexico. These funds will support producers with the capital they need to grow their businesses and access larger markets. Grants can only be used for eligible post-harvest projects and expenses.

Frontera Farm and Food Business Grant:

• Business must operate within the Center’s 38 Priority Counties in Texas and New Mexico, which include Colonias in both states. See graphic below for full list of eligible counties.

• Non-competitive application process: Completing technical assistance and meeting other outlined requirements will factor into eligibility for grant funding toward a specific post-harvest project or business need.

• Eligible applicants will receive focused technical assistance and coordination support from one of our Center’s Business Development Coordinators who can guide them through the application process and other resources.

• Zero or more years in business

• Gross revenue caps of $500,000 for food producers and $5,000,000 for food businesses.

• Awards of up to $50,000

Business Builder Farm and Food Grant:

• Applications are open to small and mid-sized farm and food businesses across Texas and New Mexico, with the exception of 53 counties in East Texas, which are being served by the Delta USDA Regional Food Business Center through separate funding.

• These grants can support items such as staff time, business planning activities, software implementation, value chain coordination, the purchase of special purpose equipment, such as food safety, processing and packaging equipment, and other allowable expenses.

• Total funding available in this grant cycle is: $1,000,000

  • Minimum award amount: $1,000

  • Maximum award amount: $100,000

• Application Process: Completing your application is a multi-step process.

  • Applications Open: 8am MST – March 3, 2025

• Intent to Apply Due: April 3, 2025

    - Applicants will need to complete an intake form for this step.
  
    - All intake forms will be verified by a Rio Grande Colonias staff member.
  

  • Click here to get started!

• Submission of application

  • Upon successful verification of your intake form, you will receive a unique link to start and submit your proposal application. This link will give you access to your client dashboard.

  • **Applications Close: Midnight MST – May 02, 2025 **

  • **Selections Announced: End of June 2025 **

• Official Request for Applications (RFA)

  • Click here to read the official Business Builder Farm and Food Request for Applications (RFA)

• Click here to read the Frequently Asked Questions for this grant.

• Click here for a sample of the questions you will be asked to answer on the proposal application portal.

• Learn more about the Business Builder Farm and Food Grant:

• The Rio Grande Colonias Team will host a series of webinars during the Spring of 2025 about the program and other technical assistance opportunities. All information sessions will be recorded and posted on the website. 

  • Join our upcoming session on March 10,02025 to learn more about the Business Builder Farm and Food Grant. This will be a great opportunity to ask our staff questions about the program. **Click here to Register. **

• For questions about our grant opportunities please fill out our Contact Us Form: https://rgcolonias.org/contact-us/

Application