Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program

The application period for RFSI grants has closed. Recommended applications are currently under review by USDA AMS. Future grant funding is subject to Federal appropriations.

The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) was awarded funding from USDA AMS through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this program, approximately $3.2 million was available for competitive subaward grants to support the development of the middle-of-the-supply-chain for Arizona-based food and farm businesses. 

ARCHIVE: Through the RFSI Program, AZDA issued the following types of grants:

• Simplified Equipment-Only Grants (minimum of $10,000 and maximum of $100,000 for equipment only plus taxes and fees).
• Infrastructure Grants (minimum of $100,000 for personnel, equipment, supplies, construction, etc.). 

These funds support expanding capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of local food products including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry. 

AZDA is also partnering with Pinnacle Prevention to provide technical assistance and Supply Chain Coordination activities. Please visit the partner page to find out more about the opportunities they are offering.

For more information on the funding source, please visit the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service program webpage.

ARCHIVE: Funding Priorities Identified

Through the initial work of the Arizona Food Action Plan and additional outreach (listening sessions and survey), the following funding priorities have been identified:

Priorities from RFSI Community Input (listening sessions and public comment) 

1. Transportation and distribution - vehicles, especially refrigerated, and shared distribution resources (staff, equipment such as a pallet lift) to minimize the amount of duplicated miles and labor hours spent moving food from production locations to consumer
2. Modernize or expand existing facilities or construction of new facilities for the following supply chain activities: 
   
   1. Cold storage- refrigerated food storage resources (walk-in, high volume capacity, shared, and geographically accessible) for continuous cold chain (storage & transportation, trained personnel, efficient management/coordination procedures)
   2. Processing/kitchens: shared, licensed food processing and preparation space to produce value-added local goods (changing or transforming a product from its original state to a more valuable state)
   3. Aggregation - facility to maintain cold chain while aggregating product in preparation for distribution to consumer
3. Food hub coordination - shared and coordinated “drop points” for cold storage, processing, aggregation, and distribution to consumers; supporting logistics and collaboration to move food regionally and state-wide 
4. Labor - food safety training, workforce development, processing, aggregation, and distribution staffing
5. Administrative support - licensing/insurance support, paperwork and funding application support, crop planning

Arizona Food Action Plan Priorities 

1. Equipment to make food production, aggregation, and processing more efficient, including additional processing centers, such as on-farm produce washing and packing stations;
2. Hard and soft infrastructure to help with the aggregation and distribution of local food to help create more stabilized markets for producers; 
3. Infrastructure and capacity building for local and hyperlocal food hubs; 
4. New or upgraded facilities that can help support more middle-of-supply chain businesses, such as prep kitchens; and
5. Equipment and investment in efforts that expand that capacity for supplying culturally appropriate food through emergency food systems and programs.