The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in partnership with the Northeast Regional Food Business Center (NERFBC) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation, has launched a second funding opportunity, totaling $10 million, to support small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses, including aquaculture and wild-caught marine businesses. Funding for the Business Builder program will be provided for projects that support businesses in scaling their operations, expanding markets, and strengthen the regional food supply chain.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “This additional funding as part of the Northeast Regional Food Business Center initiative will help our small- and medium-size farms and businesses grow their operations while impacting the overall food supply chain. It is another resource for us here at the Department as we work to strengthen the food system from farmer to consumer and we’re grateful to all the partners involved in supporting this funding opportunity.”
Funded through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the NRFBC is part of a nationwide initiative to ensure a more resilient food supply chain while supporting historically underinvested producers and food business owners. Additional partners in the initiative include Buffalo Go Green and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA).
The NERFBC announced its first round of award recipients in October 2024, awarding $2 million to 17 technical assistance organizations. The Center also launched its Community Hub, featuring a Technical Assistance Provider Directory to assist with grant writing, marketing, and business development.
Awards in this round will range from $15,000 to $100,000. The Business Builder program will fund projects through three specialized funding tracks:
•Track 1: Equipment Acquisition
($25,000 – $50,000)
Supports the purchase of specialized post-harvest equipment, such as wash-and-pack stations, refrigerated vans, cold storage units and food safety upgrades.
•Track 2: Business Development
($15,000 – $25,000)
Provides funding for business planning, financial guidance, supply chain analysis, food safety training, workforce development and strategy development.
•Track 3: Product and Market Expansion
($50,000 – $100,000)
Assists businesses in expanding through new product development, market analysis, packaging supplies, kitchen appliances and software implementation.
Applications are now open and will close April 7. Awardees will be announced in July, and funded projects will begin in August.
To support prospective applicants, the Center published a pre-recorded webinar and will host a live informational webinar on March 27 to answer technical questions and provide guidance on the application process.
For more details and to apply for the Business Builder subawards, visit the Northeast Regional Food Business Center website at https://www.nasda.org/northeast-regional-food-business-center/.
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