Register for Webinar on ag infrastructure, equipment grant program
Jan 29, 2024
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is welcoming applications for a portion of more than $2.6 million in available federal grant funds for agriculture infrastructure and equipment, which can represent long-term investments truly helping to sustain local food systems.
A webinar to assist applicants will be held on Feb. 1, 2024. Read HDOA’s news release >>
The Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) program, a federally funded grant program, is aimed at strengthening middle-of-the-supply chain operations and local food systems by supporting processing, manufacturing, storing, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution of agricultural products. HDOA was recently awarded the RFSI funds for Hawaii and is administering the grants locally under two programs:
- Infrastructure Grant Program — $1,587,480 for grants ranging in value from a minimum award of $100,000 to a maximum of $500,000, with a 50 percent matching fund requirement (25 percent matching for underserved groups); and
- Simplified Equipment-Only Grant Program (SEOGP) — $1,000,000 with a minimum award of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000 (no match required)
Domestically owned entities with facilities physically located in Hawaii are eligible to apply, including:
- Agricultural producers or processors, and groups thereof;
- Nonprofit organizations engaged in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities, such as processing, aggregation, and distribution of designated agricultural products;
- For-profit entities involved in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities like processing, aggregation, or distribution of designated agricultural products, with a primarily focus on local and regional producer benefit, and meeting SBA small business size standards;
- Local government entities participating in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities, such as processing, aggregation, and distribution of designated agricultural products;
- Tribal governments engaged in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities, such as processing, aggregation, and distribution of designated agricultural products; and
- Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that facilitate collaboration among producers or invest in equipment to benefit multiple producers in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities, including processing, aggregation, and distribution of designated agricultural product.
The application deadline is noon Feb. 26, 2024, with award announcements expected in April 2024.