USDA Appalachia Regional Food Business Center - Business Builder Subawards

Funder: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) & Appalachia Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC)

Geographic Scope: Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and several counties in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland

Total Program Funding: $16.6 million distributed over five funding cycles from 2024-2027

Current Cycle Funding: $3.32 million available in first round (Cycle 1)

Program Overview

The Regional Food Business Centers are part of USDA's food system transformation efforts to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access resources and technical assistance to access new markets. This program creates a unique opportunity to support the mid-tier of the food system through funding for farmers, food processors, distributors, and alternative retail forms.

Award Types

Two parallel award types submitted on the same RFA schedule:

Planning & Development (P&D) Awards: Provide support to growing food and farm enterprises to enhance the regional food economy

Implementation & Expansion (I&E) Awards: For projects focused on regional needs and the Center's strategic priorities

Priority Areas

• Food and farm business development to meet consumer demand, enhance financial stability, and increase regional food supply
• Market access to strengthen existing markets, expand new markets, increase food access for underserved populations, and connect value chains
• Processing, Aggregation, Distribution (PAD) infrastructure to connect or strengthen existing infrastructure, make infrastructure more accessible to underserved populations, create new infrastructure, and enhance food safety

Program Goals

• Transform the food supply chain
• Help local communities (both rural and urban)
• Reduce food insecurity
• Improve health and nutrition
• Increase employment opportunities
• New economic investment

Leadership

Led by Rural Action, Inc. with Mountain Association as fiscal manager

Application Process

Applications are submitted on a competitive RFA (Request for Applications) schedule with five cycles total from 2024-2027.

Both P&D (Planning & Development) and I&E (Implementation & Expansion) award types:

• Are submitted on the same RFA schedule
• Undergo parallel processes of competitive review
• Undergo parallel selection and announcement processes

Note: Specific application materials, narrative questions, and detailed submission instructions were not provided in the source material. Contact the Appalachia Regional Food Business Center for current RFA details and application requirements.