The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) has announced that over 30 projects across the state will receive grants through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Equipment-Only Program. This initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), aims to strengthen Maine’s food supply chain by providing funding for specialized equipment purchases.
With up to $2.5 million in competitive grant funding available, the program focuses on enhancing market access and expanding value-added processing infrastructure. DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal stated, “This funding is a direct response to the needs we’ve heard from Maine’s farmers, food producers, and processors.” She added that investing in specialized equipment would help fortify local and regional food supply chains, broaden market opportunities, and boost the availability of locally produced food.
Grants will support purchases of post-harvest equipment that increase capacity in aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transport, wholesaling, and distribution for products grown or produced in Maine. Award amounts range from $10,000 to $100,000 without requiring matching funds. The grants are strictly for equipment-only expenses and cannot be used for staffing or facility updates.
Michelle Webb, Agricultural Resource Development and Program Director noted that these grants address feedback from farmers and producers about the need for funding specific to equipment upgrades. “We are incredibly excited to have this opportunity to offer equipment grants that do not require applicants to provide a matching contribution,” she said.
The USDA launched the RFSI initiative in May 2023 with up to $420 million allocated nationwide to bolster local and regional food systems. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has formed cooperative agreements with state agencies like DACF to manage program funds.
For more information on this program or how to apply for grants visit the Maine RFSI webpage or contact Jim Britt at Jim.Britt@maine.gov.
