Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 22 0009
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) funding opportunity designed to help groups build stronger local or regional food systems by organizing partnerships that pull together both public and private resources. The core idea is to support coordinated, multi-organization efforts that can plan, develop, and expand food system capacity in a defined region, with an emphasis on improving the long-term viability and resilience of local and regional food economies. The program explicitly recognizes pandemic response and recovery as part of resilience building, so projects can address weaknesses exposed by disruptions and help communities, producers, and food businesses adapt and rebuild in a more durable way.
RFSP centers on the creation or strengthening of a partnership agreement where the applicant and its partners work together to catalyze food system development. Instead of funding a single isolated activity, the program expects applicants to coordinate a shared effort: partners collectively set priorities, connect people to resources and services, and track progress toward common goals. Partnerships are given flexibility to define the “size and scope” of the local or regional food system where their work will take place, which allows projects to be tailored to local realities such as supply chain structure, processing and distribution gaps, market access barriers, and community needs. In addition to planning and coordination, partnerships are authorized to coordinate with AMS for technical assistance and to conduct outreach and education that bring additional participants into the partnership and into eligible project activities.
A key expectation is that partnerships reflect a mix of financial and technical capabilities and show that they can collaborate across sectors. That typically means demonstrating credible experience (or clear readiness) to work effectively with multiple types of stakeholders, which can include producers, aggregators, processors, distributors, food hubs, retailers, institutions, nonprofits, universities, and local or state agencies. The program places value on approaches that are innovative, sustainable over time, and measurable, meaning proposals should spell out what success looks like, how the work will continue or be maintained beyond the grant period, and what metrics will be used to show progress and impact.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA AMS TM RFSP G 22 0009) under CFDA 10.177, categorized under agriculture. The award ceiling listed is up to $1,000,000, with an estimated 60 awards expected. The opportunity was created on March 1, 2022, and the original application closing date was May 16, 2022. Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with details to be clarified in the program’s additional eligibility information, which typically means applicants should review the official eligibility language to confirm whether their organization type and partnership structure meet program requirements.
One notable feature is how RFSP can connect to other USDA Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) offerings. RFSP grant recipients may apply for other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or other eligible entities that want to participate in eligible activities under the partnership agreement. In practice, this creates a pathway where the partnership can serve as a coordinating backbone while also helping participants access additional implementation funding through related programs, making RFSP useful for building regional alignment as well as leveraging other resources.Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 22 0009
- The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Food System Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.177.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 01, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2022 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) Grant FAQs
What is the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant?
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) funding opportunity designed to help groups build stronger local or regional food systems by organizing partnerships that combine public and private resources.
What is the main purpose of RFSP funding?
The program supports coordinated, multi-organization efforts to plan, develop, and expand food system capacity in a defined region, with an emphasis on improving the long-term viability and resilience of local and regional food economies.
Does RFSP support pandemic response and recovery activities?
Yes. RFSP explicitly recognizes pandemic response and recovery as part of resilience building, so projects can address weaknesses exposed by disruptions and help communities, producers, and food businesses adapt and rebuild in a more durable way.
Is RFSP intended to fund a single organization or a collaborative partnership?
RFSP is centered on creating or strengthening a partnership agreement where the applicant and partners work together. Rather than funding a single isolated activity, the program expects applicants to coordinate a shared, multi-organization effort.
What does RFSP mean by a "partnership agreement"?
RFSP expects an agreement where the applicant and its partners collaborate to catalyze food system development. Partners collectively set priorities, connect people to resources and services, and track progress toward shared goals.
What types of activities are RFSP partnerships expected to do?
Based on the program description, partnerships are expected to coordinate a shared effort that may include planning and coordination, connecting participants to resources and services, tracking progress toward common goals, and conducting outreach and education to bring additional participants into the partnership and eligible activities.
How is the project region defined under RFSP?
Partnerships have flexibility to define the "size and scope" of the local or regional food system where the work will take place. This allows projects to be tailored to local realities and needs within a defined region.
What kinds of local or regional challenges can RFSP address?
The opportunity highlights examples of local realities that may shape projects, such as supply chain structure, processing and distribution gaps, market access barriers, and community needs.
Can RFSP funds be used for outreach and education?
Yes. The program authorizes partnerships to conduct outreach and education that bring additional participants into the partnership and into eligible project activities.
Does RFSP include technical assistance support?
RFSP partnerships are authorized to coordinate with AMS for technical assistance, according to the opportunity description.
What kinds of partners are expected to be involved?
RFSP places value on partnerships that can collaborate across sectors and reflect a mix of financial and technical capabilities. Stakeholders may include producers, aggregators, processors, distributors, food hubs, retailers, institutions, nonprofits, universities, and local or state agencies.
What qualities does RFSP value in proposed projects?
The program places value on approaches that are innovative, sustainable over time, and measurable. Proposals are expected to spell out what success looks like, how the work will continue or be maintained beyond the grant period, and what metrics will be used to show progress and impact.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity estimates about 60 awards.
Who is the funding agency for RFSP?
The funding opportunity is offered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What type of grant program is RFSP?
RFSP is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RFSP notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA AMS TM RFSP G 22 0009.
What is the CFDA (program) number associated with RFSP?
The CFDA number listed is 10.177.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 1, 2022.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date listed was May 16, 2022.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with details to be clarified in the program's additional eligibility information. Applicants are expected to review the official eligibility language to confirm that their organization type and partnership structure meet program requirements.
Does RFSP connect to other USDA programs?
Yes. RFSP can connect to other USDA Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) offerings.
Can RFSP recipients apply for other LAMP programs?
Yes. RFSP grant recipients may apply for other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or other eligible entities that want to participate in eligible activities under the partnership agreement.
How can RFSP help leverage additional resources beyond the RFSP award?
The opportunity describes RFSP as a coordinating "backbone" that can help participants access additional implementation funding through related LAMP programs, supporting regional alignment and leveraging other resources.
What makes RFSP different from a typical single-project grant?
RFSP emphasizes coordinated, multi-organization partnerships that collectively set priorities and track progress toward shared goals, rather than supporting a single isolated activity carried out by one organization.
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