Regional Food System Partnerships

Background
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program aims to support partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The program focuses on building and strengthening local or regional food economy viability and resilience, including pandemic response and recovery. The program encourages applicants to work with their partners to catalyze the development of local or regional food systems, coordinate efforts within the partnership to set priorities, connect resources and services, and measure progress towards common goals.

Grant Details
The RFSP grant recipients may apply for other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or eligible entities that desire to participate in eligible activities under the partnership agreement. Partnerships are authorized to determine the size and scope of the local or regional food system, coordinate with AMS to receive technical assistance, and conduct outreach and education for potential participation in the partnership agreement and eligible activities.

Eligibility Requirements
Partnerships must bring a variety of financial and technical capabilities, demonstrate experience or readiness to work effectively and collaboratively with public and private entities across sectors, and present innovative, sustainable, and measurable approaches to achieving the project’s goals. The partnership must have at least one eligible entity and at least one eligible partner as described in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the RFA.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for RFSP Planning and Design projects ranges from $100,000 to $250,000, while Implementation and Expansion projects range from $250,000 to $1,000,000.

Grant Value
Approximately $5 million will be available to fund applications under this solicitation, minus administrative expenses.