Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program - Equipment Only Grant

The purpose of the Michigan Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Equipment Only Grant program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for Michigan producers. Administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in partnership with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the program supports expanded middle-of-the-supply-chain capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products meant for human consumption, excluding meat and poultry.

Eligible entities include agricultural producers or processors (or groups of producers and processors), non-profit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals that bring producers together for shared infrastructure. For-profit entities must meet SBA small business size standards. All applicant businesses and organizations must be located in Michigan, and all grant activities must occur in Michigan. Priority is given to projects that benefit underserved farmers and ranchers, new and beginning farmers, veteran producers, and businesses owned by socially disadvantaged individuals. Prior to receiving funds, awardees must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, register in the State of Michigan SIGMA Vendor Self-Service system, and ensure good standing with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Eligible projects under the Equipment Only track are simplified, fixed-price grants limited strictly to purchases of special-purpose equipment with a per-item value of $5,000 or more, with total project grant requests between $10,000 and $100,000. Allowable equipment includes processing machinery, canning systems, roasters, hullers, egg packing equipment, cold storage, labeling machines, and specialized delivery vehicles. Ineligible costs include general-purpose equipment (such as office furniture, copiers, or general-use vehicles), facility upgrades or construction, agricultural production tools/tractors, real property acquisition, and marketing expenses. Eligible products are restricted to food meant for human consumption, excluding meat and poultry, wild-caught seafood, animal feed/forage, fiber, landscaping products, tobacco, and dietary supplements.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the State of Michigan's online MiAgGrants system by 5:00 PM EST on June 17, 2024. Applicants are required to submit a project narrative using the USDA template outlining project scope, estimated increase in production, and project beneficiaries, along with substantiating documentation of equipment costs (such as catalog pricing, contracts, or binding vendor quotes). Up to three optional letters of support may also be submitted with the application.