USDA Announces $26.5 Million in Grant Funding to Support Local Food Systems

Submitted by tim on Mon, 05/19/2025 - 05:34

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service just opened three major grant programs designed to rebuild local food systems, expand supply chains, and strengthen market access for producers, food hubs, and community partners.

Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) - Apply by June 27th

$11 million available | $50,000–$500,000 awards
Supports direct-to-consumer sales (farmers markets, CSAs, agritourism, online platforms)
Use of funds: technology upgrades, food safety certifications, marketing, on-farm food waste reduction, value-added production

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) - Apply by June 27th

$11 million available | $25,000–$500,000 awards
Focuses on intermediaries (aggregators, distributors, processors) in local/regional food chains
Use of funds: feasibility studies, infrastructure, cold storage, transportation, business development, labor and training

Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) - Apply by June 27th

$4.5 million available | $100,000–$1 million awards
Funds regional coalitions working to coordinate food systems and align cross-sector efforts
Use of funds: partnership building, systems planning, shared measurement, outreach, infrastructure coordination

Questions specifically about each of these grant programs should be directed to the program contact listed on the program webpage.

If your business is based in a Vermont community of 5,000 people or fewer, you may be eligible for grant writing assistance through the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program. To inquire about this assistance, please complete the REDI inquiry form.

Learn more

Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant

This new grant addresses the significant need to expand dairy workforce development programming in the Northeast. It focuses on the development, expansion, and operations of existing federally registered apprenticeships, state registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, internships, or other training programs.

Awards will range from $20,000 – $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution. Approximately $800,000 in total funds are available. This grant will only be offered once.

Apply by June 5th

Farmers, Share Your Perspective

Vermont farmers are invited to participate in a short, anonymous survey about their perspectives on community connections, health, farmland ownership, and sustainable practices in Vermont.

Your insights will help inform research on how to support thriving farm businesses, resilient communities, and future farm ownership transitions.

The 15-minute survey is completely confidential and collects no personal information.

Take the survey

Resource for Online Meat Sales

Do you sell beef, pork, chicken, lamb, or other types of meat from an online storefront? Selling meat online comes with its own set of challenges that can take some effort and creativity to overcome.

Local Food Marketplace has created “A Meat Vendor’s Guide to Online Sales,” a free resource for local farmers looking to sell more meat online.

In the guide you will find information about managing variable weights and accurate pricing with an online store, the importance of inventory tracking, strategies for selling all cuts, handling bulk buys and deposits, strategies to encourage larger orders, and managing logistics for efficient packing and delivery.

Get the guide

Sugaring in a Changing Climate

On May 25th, join NOFA-VT at the Proctor Maple Research Center for a full-day workshop focused on managing sugarbushes for biodiversity and climate resilience. Learn about environmental stewardship practices that secure the future of maple sugaring, explore the vital connection between maple production and forest health, and understand various certifications including organic, bird-friendly, and VMSMA sugarhouse certification.

In the afternoon, join a guided tour of the working sugarbush and sugarhouse to learn best practices for supporting biodiversity. You'll get hands-on experience using new field guides to identify biodiversity indicators. The day concludes with a maple syrup tasting.

Register today

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

June
6/1 - Harvest New England Day and Vermont Day at the Big E deadline
6/5 - Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant deadline

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