The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is designed to develop and administer state-coordinated initiatives that enhance resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain operations while strengthening local and regional food systems.
Donor Name: Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA)
State: Hawaii
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants
Deadline: 02/26/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The significance of the RFSI Program for Hawaii lies in its aim to enhance food processing options for local and regional producers across the island chain. The primary focus of project funding is on expanding capacity and infrastructure in the middle of the supply chain, thereby strengthening the local food system.
The Hawaii RFSI Program, allocated with $2,587,480 in funding, prioritizes expanding capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of specific agricultural products (including eggs and honey but excluding meat and poultry).
The Infrastructure Grant Program will provide up to $1,587,480 in funding and the Simplified Equipment-Only Grant Program will provide an additional $1,000,000. Applicants have the option to choose either grant offering.
Infrastructure grants range in value, ranging from a minimum award of $100,000 to a maximum award of $500,000, with a 50% matching fund requirement (though certain historically underserved groups may qualify for reduced match of 25%). Simplified Equipment-Only grants range from a minimum award of $10,000 to a maximum award of $100,000, with no matching fund requirement.
Grant Period
- Infrastructure Grants: Funds will be disbursed no earlier than June 1, 2024, and projects must be completed by May 24, 2027.
- Simplified Equipment-Only Grants: Funds will be awarded no earlier than June 1, 2024, and project transactions completed by May 24, 2025.
Examples of Eligible Project Activities
Allowable activities or tasks that could be part of such projects may include:
- Hiring term-limited personnel to assist with project implementation activities;
- Purchasing special purpose equipment, including the purchase of special purpose equipment for institutions or others that will benefit multiple producers through middle of the supply chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural product;
- Analyzing potential facility upgrades and changes that meet regulatory requirements, obtaining design and/or architecture services, etc. (to the extent these costs are directly related to the project);
- Planning for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) or other food safety or worker safety measures or equipment recommendations;
- Upgrades or new facilities for processing specific agricultural products, such as on-farm post-harvest processing, preservation, and storage/cold storage;
- Post-harvest cleaning and grading;
- Aggregator warehouse and storage, including cooperatives;
- Purchase of drying equipment, freezing equipment, freezer, or cold storage;
- Processing, canning, preserving, and pasteurization;
- Preparation and packing;
- Drying, hulling, shelling, and milling; and
- Cooking, baking, juicing, distilling, and fermenting.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is open to domestically owned entities with facilities physically located within the State of Hawaii, 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.
Grant Project Guidelines
RFSI program grants will fund projects that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of targeted agricultural products. Examples include:
- Modernization of processing, manufacturing, and storage facilities and equipment, including investments in tools, automation, and other technologies that enhance worker safety and skills;
- Construction and/or renovation of existing aggregation, processing, and storage facilities, with a focus on increasing capacity and efficiencies to achieve economies of scale;
- Construction and/or renovation of on-farm infrastructure to support post-harvest washing, packaging and storage capacity, with a focus on reaching underserved farmers;
- Development of new food hubs, agricultural cooperatives, and not-for-profit intermediaries in remote and underserved areas across the state that currently do not have access to these resources;
- Investment in technology and training to improve and reduce the cost of compliance with federal, state, and local food safety requirements;
- Expanding processing capacities, including adding product types, increasing production volumes, and supporting new wholesale/retail product lines;
- Purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing, and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles;
- Modernizing manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
- Increasing packaging and labeling capacities that meet compliance requirements under applicable laws (e.g., sealing, bagging, boxing, labeling, conveying, and product moving equipment);
- Increasing storage space, including cold storage;
- Develop, customize, or install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals;
- Modernize equipment or facilities to ensure food safety, including associated Hazard, Analysis, and Critical Control Points (HACCP) consultation, plan development, and employee training; and
- Training on the use of all equipment purchased under the grant and associated new processes.
For more information, visit HDOA.
