Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program - Infraestructure Grant

The Michigan Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Infrastructure Grant program builds resilience in the middle of the food supply chain and strengthens 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 provides subawards to expand capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced foods, excluding meat and poultry.

Eligible applicants include agricultural producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, institutions (such as schools, universities, and hospitals), and for-profit entities meeting SBA small business size standards. All applicant businesses and organizations must be located in Michigan, and all project activities must take place within the state. Awardees must be in good standing with the State of Michigan (registered with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs), registered as a state vendor in SIGMA, and hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov prior to receiving funds. Public infrastructure projects exceeding $250,000 must comply with Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements, and all infrastructure projects must complete environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Eligible projects must expand middle-of-the-supply-chain infrastructure for products meant for human consumption, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for food, and aquaculture. Allowable activities include facility expansion or modernization, new facility construction, specialized processing and packaging equipment installation, and wastewater management structures. Funding cannot be used for acquiring real property or land, projects focused on meat or poultry processing, research and development, marketing, or activities previously funded by another federal award. Priority is given to projects that expand processing and distribution capacity, modernize tracking and storage, benefit underserved or veteran producers, and serve small and medium-sized enterprises.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the State of Michigan MiAgGrants online system. Applicants must submit a completed project narrative using the USDA template, budget documentation, signed match verification letters for all cash and in-kind contributions, and an Evidence of Critical Resources and Infrastructure certification letter confirming that essential facilities or resources are in place. Applications are evaluated by a Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) and submitted to USDA AMS for final review and approval.