1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
The Agriculture Innovation Center Program is a grant from USDA Rural Development that funds centers providing producer services to agricultural producers developing and marketing value-added agricultural products. Total program funding is $1. 5 million, with a maximum grant of $1,000,000 per award.
A matching funds requirement of at least one-third of the total project budget applies. Eligible applicants include commercial organizations, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Funded services include business development, market development, organizational assistance, financial advisory services, process development, product development, and value chain coordination.
Centers may also make sub-grants to individual agricultural producers of up to $5,000 for eligible services. Organizations must be registered in SAM before applying. For FY 2026, the application deadline has been delayed due to a federal government shutdown; updated information will be posted on Grants.
gov.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “Private foundations (e.g., Farmer's Fund, Agricultural Future Foundation)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
# Agriculture Innovation Center Program | Rural Development **Official websites use** A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
**Secure websites use HTTPS** Rural Development U.S. Department of Agriculture * Director of State Office Operations * Rural Business-Cooperative Service * Rural Utilities Service * Healthy Food Financing Initiative * Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development * Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) * Cybersecurity for Water and Wastewater Systems * Community Facilities Programs * Multifamily Housing Programs * Single Family Housing Programs * Telecommunications Programs * Water & Environmental Programs * Program Support Services * General Terms and Conditions * General Terms and Conditions - Legacy View all General Terms and Conditions * For Water & Environmental Engineers * Rural Development Disaster Assistance View all Programs & Services * Stakeholder Announcements ### **Ohio Feed Mill Modernizes with USDA Lending Partnership** Towering over the main intersection of Baltic, Ohio, is the Gerber & Sons, Inc. feed mill.
Since it first started in 1905, this family-owned business in rural Holmes County has produced custom feed mix and bulk feed for local livestock and poultry farmers...
* Publications for Cooperatives * Regulations and Guidance View all Regulations and Guidance * Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS) * LINC Contact and Resources View all LINC Training Library ### Human Resources Inquiries ### **Existing Home Loan Borrower Inquiries** PO Box 66889 St. Louis, MO 63166 1. [](https://www.
rd. usda. gov/) 4.
Agriculture Innovation Center Program * Community Facilities Programs * Multifamily Housing Programs * Single Family Housing Programs * Telecommunications Programs * Water & Environmental Programs * Program Support Services * General Terms and Conditions * General Terms and Conditions - Legacy * For Water & Environmental Engineers * Rural Development Disaster Assistance # Agriculture Innovation Center Program Program Application Period: The FY 2026 application period is delayed.
Due to the Federal Government Shutdown, the Agency was unable to operate the AIC program during that time. We are currently in the process of publishing an extension to the application deadline as well as additional information that may be needed by applicants for this funding cycle. Please note that the Notice of Opportunity of Funding will be placed on Grants.
gov for this fiscal year. A link will be forthcoming to this page. **What does this program do?
** Through the AIC program, RBCS makes grants to Centers that provide Producer Services to Agricultural Producers seeking to develop and market Value-Added Agricultural Products. **Program Funding:**$1,500,000 **Maximum Grant Amount:**$1,000,000 **Who may apply for this program?
** * Commercial Organizations * Institutions of Higher Education * Nonprofit Organizations **Matching Funds Requirement:** Matching Funds are required for at least one-third of the total project budget. For example, if the total project budget is $1,500,000, matching funds must be at least $500,000. Matching funds may be provided in cash by the applicant or a third party or in-kind by a third party.
They must be available for use during the period of performance, and they must be used for allowable expenses. **How may funds be used? ** Grant and matching funds may be used to operate an agriculture innovation center, and to provide the following services to agricultural producers: * Business development services, such as feasibility studies and business plans..
* Market development services, such as marketing plans, branding, and customer identification. * Organizational assistance, such as legal and technical advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business.
* Financial advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business, such as assistance with obtaining credit for operating costs, training on using financial management software, and guidance on use of cash flow. * Process development services, such as engineering services, scale production assessments, and systems development.
* Product development, such as idea generation, concept testing, feasibility and cost analysis, product taste-testing, demographic and other types of consumer analysis, production analysis, recipe development, evaluation of packaging and labeling options, and brand development for a value-added agricultural product.
* Value chain coordination, or directly working with an agricultural producer to connect that producer to a distribution system, processing facility, or commercial kitchen. * Grants to agricultural producers for the above services, where the individual award does not exceed $5,000. **How do we get started?
** * Register your organization with theSystem for Award Management(SAM), if you aren’t already registered. The registration is free. You need to complete several steps.
It’s a good idea to start the registration process at least a month before any application deadline. Before you start the registration process, we suggest reading through the HELP materials available on the SAM website. Make a note of your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and expiration date because you’ll need those for your application.
Select the To Apply tab to access program forms and resource information. **Who can answer questions? ** Gail Thuner, Direct Programs Branch, Program Management Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3201, Room 5803-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250 Phone - 202-720-1400 EmailSM.
RBCS. AIC@usda. gov. Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice).
**Will I need to send any reports if I receive a grant? ** Yes, you must send regular financial and performance reports. Your financial assistance agreement will explain how often to send the reports, what forms to use, and what information is mandatory.
**Where can I get more information about the program? ** The program regulation that governs this program is 7 CFR 4284 Part 4284 Subpart K and is available at this link: eCFR :: 7 CFR Part 4284 -- Grants. Please read the program regulation for the details on what is needed for an application.
The program regulation can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 7 CFR Part 4284 Subpart K. It can be accessed at this link: eCFR :: 7 CFR Part 4284 -Grants. Note that this regulation was updated on September 16, 2024, so it is important to make sure you are looking at the most recent version of the regulation.
Make sure you begin gathering the required information at least two months before the application deadline. Documents, such verification of matching funds, letters of support, and letters of commitment for the Center’s Board of Directors,will take time to obtain. Developing your proposed scope of work and budget will also take time.
You can find templates to assist you with compiling required information below under Application Materials. * SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance * Form RD 4284-1 Agriculture Innovation Center Program Application Form and Instructions (coming soon) **Application Materials:** You will need to submit the two forms identified above. However, note that Form RD 4284-1 form is quite lengthy and will require significant time to complete.
You will need supporting documents to help you fill out the form. You don’t need to submit these documents with your application, but you do need to submit them if your application is selected for funding, and the information on the documents must match the information you submitted in your application.
To assist you with preparing your application, we have the following templates that you can use: * Verification of Matching Funds – Third Party Contributions * Board of Directors Organizational Commitment ### The following additional requirements apply to the AIC program. All applicants whose applications are selected for funding will receive a Letter of Conditions.
Other Federal agencies may refer to it as an Award Notice or Award Letter. This letter describes the conditions that the applicant must meet in order for the award to be approved. You can view the standard conditions in this document:Letter of Conditions.
All recipients of AIC awards are required to comply with the terms of the Financial Assistance Agreement. You can review the standard award terms here: Form RD 4280-2 (coming soon). Gail Thuner, Direct Programs Branch, Program Management Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3201, Room 5803-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250 Phone - 202-720-1400 EmailSM.
RBCS. AIC@usda. gov. Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice) or by email atTarget-center@usda.
gov No events are currently scheduled. * Report Fraud on USDA Contracts * Architectural Barriers Act * USDA Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement * Non-Discrimination Statement Rural Development U.S. Department of Agriculture
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania focused on agricultural technology. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $50,000 - $250,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program