New TDA Grant Programs

Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Grants Office are pleased to announce the competitive solicitation for grant funds under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.

TDA will accept applications for the RFSI Program for projects that support the expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry. 

The RFSI Program is intended to improve upon, provide new, and/or create more diverse, local, and regional market options for locally or regionally produced food in Texas; as well as create more economic opportunities and resiliency for communities, especially in rural and/or underserved/distressed communities, allowing them to retain more of the value chain dollar. 

Equipment-Only Grants: $10,0000 -$100,000
1 year to implement and complete.

Infrastructure Grants: $100,000 – $3 Million
3 years to implement and complete.

The RFSI Program also aims to:

• Support development of value-added products available to consumers;
• Support proposals that provide fair prices, fair wages and new and safe job opportunities that keep profits in rural communities; and
• Increase diversity in processing options in terms of business model approaches, geography, and availability to underserved communities.

Eligibility

Applications will be accepted from the following individuals, organizations, and/or institutions:

• Agricultural producers or processors or groups of producers/processors;
• Nonprofit organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities;
• For-profit, small business, organizations operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities that meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for federal contracting;
• Local government & tribal government entities operating middle-of-the-supply-chain activities; and
• Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals bringing producers together to establish cooperative or shared infrastructure or invest in equipment that will benefit multiple producers.

How to Apply

Details regarding the 2024 application instructions for each program can be found within the RFGAs on TDA’s website: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure * (Please go to this website for more details, I found it very helpful!)

TDA will host a pre-application webinar for each program. The webinars will feature an overview of the program, an introduction to the TDA-GO online grants management system, and a Q&A Session.  

RFSI – Infrastructure RFGA Webinar
Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, click here to register.

RFSI – Equipment Only RFGA Webinar
Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, click here to register

Can’t make it, or missed it! Don’t worry, it will be recorded and posted on TDA’s website.

Questions can be directed to:

Ryan Horsak
Grant Specialist
(512) 463-6616
FoodSystems@TexasAgriculture.gov