Retail Investment Fund (RIF) Program

Storefront Activation Grant Program (City of Milwaukee) is sponsored by City of Milwaukee, Department of City Development (DCD). This grant offers financial incentives to recruit new businesses to vacant commercial/retail tenant spaces in commercial buildings within Milwaukee's commercial corridors. The grant is up to $10 per square foot and may not exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs.

Supporting industry in the switch to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Identification of technical, market and regulatory barriers and possible solutions for industry to ‘switch to bio-based’. Contribution to filling the gap between bio-based sectors and the broader industrial landscape. Scope: While the share of bio-based products and processes in traditionally non-bio-based markets has been growing substantially in recent years, many non-bio-based, partially bio-based and more traditional bio-based industries (such as food industry) still perceive market and regulatory situations as uncertain and may therefore be reluctant to invest in new bio-based value chains. These uncertainties may relate to cost competition versus fossil-based counterparts, first-mover hesitation, lack of investment attractiveness, regulatory issues, uncertainties in feedstock quality and availability, lack of knowledge, shortage of relevant skills, etc.. Notwithstanding these challenges, industries recognise the opportunity of ‘switching to bio-based’ to improve their sustainability profile and meet consumers’ expectations. Proposals under this topic should: Perform a consultation among non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries to identify barriers preventing them to adopt/diversify bio-based feedstock and processes in their operations. Include at least 3 industrial sectors that are critical for the green transition. Make sure to include a representative sample of industries with different size (including SMEs and startups) and position in the value chain and covering regions with different specialisations. Analyse the outcomes from the consultation to identify barriers to bio-based transition and propose possible solutions. Validate the results with end users/consumers to include their perspectives. Identify case studies and success stories showcasing best practises leading to adoption of bio-based solutions and assess their replication potential in the non-bio-based and partially bio-based sectors in scope. Create a forum bringing together bio-based industries, feedstock providers, non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries, investors, policymakers, demand-side actors (e.g., large retailers, end-users, public procurers, etc.) as well as existing or upcoming stakeholders’ groups under the CBE JU, to facilitate the dialogue among the stakeholders and identify possible pathways for cooperation. Develop and publish sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps towards the ‘switch to bio-based’ for the (at least 3) targeted non-bio-based or partially bio-based industrial sectors, also identifying de-risking opportunities. In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 [1] , proposals under this topic should: : Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, BBI JU/CBE JU projects as well as COST actions. [1] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Competitiveness, innovation, research and development, Innovation policy, Market analysis, Market development, barriers, bio-based industrial transformation, bio-based market, green transition, investment, knowledge, market development, market strategy, skills, stakeholder dialogue

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund Loans and Technical Assistance is sponsored by Healthy Food Financing Initiative, Reinvestment Fund, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development. Loans and technical assistance funding for projects related to increasing food access and strengthening, expanding, and innovating within the food retail supply chain. Loans are one-time investments of capital to address barriers to entry in the food retail or food enterprise fields for rural and other eligible areas. Technical assistance funding will support planning and other projects that build capacity to develop a food retail outlet or food enterprise.

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund Grants and Technical Assistance is sponsored by Healthy Food Financing Initiative, Reinvestment Fund, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Rural Development. The HFFI Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund offers grant funding for planning, implementation, and technical assistance projects related to food retail supply chain resiliency, access to healthy foods, employment, and low-income community revitalization.