RFSI Equipment-Only Grants (New York)

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM), in partnership with the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF), has announced the availability of funding through the NYS Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) Equipment-Only Grant. This grant program is designed to support projects that invest in equipment for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or distribution of agricultural food products, with the exception of meat and poultry.

The purpose of this funding is to strengthen infrastructure that will expand the capacity of food businesses in New York State. The grant prioritizes projects in the dairy, fruit and vegetable, and organic sectors. A key objective is to help these businesses develop new value-added products and improve market access to institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities through intermediaries like food hubs and distributors.

A total of approximately $1,000,000 is available through this grant opportunity. Individual awards will range from $30,000 to $100,000, and no matching funds are required. The grant does not specify a particular duration.

Examples of eligible equipment include those used for processing, preservation, and storage such as cold storage units, freezing equipment, and pasteurization systems. Other approved equipment includes packing and labeling machines, egg packing systems, flotation tanks, and special-purpose vehicles like refrigerated trucks. However, on-farm equipment is only eligible if it supports post-harvest activities and benefits more than one farm.

Projects must focus on acquiring equipment that meets the grant’s goals of expanding capacity in the regional food supply chain. This includes purchasing equipment that helps businesses meet retail or wholesale market standards, expand production volume, or launch new product lines that would not be possible without the new equipment.

Eligible applicants include agricultural producers or processors, nonprofit organizations, local or tribal governments, and institutions such as schools or hospitals. These entities must be involved in middle-of-the-supply-chain activities like processing, aggregation, or distribution of agricultural food products. The deadline to apply is July 23, 2025.