USDA Grants

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program (HFFI Partnerships Program) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Reinvestment Fund. This program builds the capacity of locally and regionally focused Healthy Food Financing Partnerships to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible healthy food retailers and post-harvest food retail supply chain enterprises.

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program (HFFI Partnerships Program) is sponsored by USDA Rural Development / Reinvestment Fund. This program provides funding to build the capacity of locally and regionally focused Healthy Food Financing Partnerships to offer financial and technical assistance to eligible healthy food retailers and post-harvest food retail supply chain enterprises.

Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program (HFFI Partnerships Program) is sponsored by Reinvestment Fund, in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program provides grants to public-private partnerships that offer financing and technical assistance to strengthen food retailers and food supply-chain businesses serving underserved communities. The goal is to improve access to healthy food and strengthen local economies.

Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This program funds projects aimed at controlling feral swine populations in key agricultural regions to reduce damage to crops, pastureland, wildlife habitat, soil, and water resources.

Specialty Processing Equipment Grant (2026) is sponsored by Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (administered by the University of Tennessee via USDA AMS). This grant, part of the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, assists dairy processors in the Southeast to reduce risk and develop higher-value uses for their milk supply. It specifically supports investments in specialty processing equipment.

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDL and REDG) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Rural Development). This program provides loans and grants to assist in the economic development of rural areas. Funds can be used for healthcare facilities and equipment, telecommunications networks, and job creation projects.

Intermediary Relending Program in Texas is a grant program from USDA Rural Development Texas that funds the establishment of revolving loan funds to alleviate poverty and increase economic activity in rural Texas communities. Intermediaries such as Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) may borrow up to $750,000, which they then relend to local businesses and economic development projects. Ultimate recipients may borrow up to $250,000. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction, conversion, or repair of business facilities; land and equipment; leasehold improvements; machinery; start-up costs; working capital; and pollution control. Eligible intermediaries include current or former Rural Utilities Service borrowers and not-for-profit utilities. Applications accepted through September 30, 2026.

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Rural Development). REAP provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. This can include high-efficiency HVAC systems, insulation, lighting, and other energy-efficient equipment. While school districts are not directly listed as eligible, the program's focus on rural small businesses and agricultural producers could potentially include some school district-related entities or partnerships in rural areas if they meet the specific eligibility criteria. The program is governed by a multi-year Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) covering FY 2025, 2026, and 2027.

USDA Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service. This program is designed to strengthen the ability of food banks, food pantries, and other emergency food assistance organizations to safely store and distribute nutritious foods. Funding supports cold storage and food distribution equipment, helping organizations expand their capacity to get fresh, healthy food to individuals and families in need.

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is sponsored by USDA Forest Service, State, Private & Tribal Forestry. This competitive grant program provides financial assistance to Indian Tribes, local governments, and qualified conservation nonprofit organizations to establish community forests through the fee simple acquisition of private forest land. These forests provide community benefits including public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs. Public access is required for all projects.

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program strengthens education and training in food and agricultural sciences and first professional degree-level veterinary medicine. It supports institutional improvements such as curriculum development, faculty enhancement, scientific equipment, student recruitment and retention, and graduate-level education programs.

Specialty Crop Multi-State Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) supports collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects. The focus is to address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Projects must involve at least two partners located in different states. Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply directly to AMS if they are located in a non-participating state, or through their State Department of Agriculture if in a participating state.

Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) is sponsored by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (administered by South Carolina Department of Agriculture). This federal grant program competitively awards funds to projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disea…

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency that funds cost share assistance for producers and handlers seeking or renewing organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Eligible applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. The program covers expenses such as application fees, inspection costs, equivalency agreement fees, inspector travel, user fees, and postage. Awards provide up to 75 percent of certification costs, not to exceed per certification scope (crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling). The 2024 application deadline was October 31, 2024.

1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This program supports scientific research that addresses agricultural challenges and builds capacity for teaching, research, and extension activities at 1890 Land-grant Universities (HBCUs). While the primary focus is agriculture, financial management is listed as an eligible major for related scholarship programs, suggesting that projects related to financial literacy within an agricultural or rural community context might be considered as part of workforce development or extension activities.

Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) is sponsored by USDA Farm Service Agency Outreach Office and Illinois FSA Office, in cooperation with with University of Illinois Extension. These grants fund innovative projects to advance urban agriculture in Chicago, supporting conservation practices, infrastructure, on-farm equipment, and supply chain improvements. It is a first-come, first-served competitive basis program.

USDA Innovative Agriculture Micro-grants for Chicago (IAM-Chi) is a grant from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) with University of Illinois Extension that provides micro-grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 for urban agriculture-related projects in Chicago. Funding supports infrastructure improvements, conservation initiatives, and equipment acquisition for urban producers operating in the city. This program is designed to strengthen the urban food production ecosystem in Chicago by helping small-scale and emerging agricultural operations access resources they need to grow. Applications are accepted through November 30, 2026, giving Chicago-area urban farmers and producers ample time to develop and submit competitive proposals.

NIFA AFRI Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems AI Program is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program area A1541 Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems (DSFAS) funds research at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and agriculture.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants (HSI) Program is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The HSI Education Grants Program promotes and strengthens the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs, particularly those related to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.

Southern SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant is a program from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (USDA) that funds individual farmers, ranchers, and groups of producers in the southern United States to conduct on-farm research and education projects advancing sustainable agriculture practices. Awards of up to $20,000 support producer-led experiments, demonstrations, and outreach that benefit the farming community. Eligible applicants include individual farmers and ranchers or groups of producers across southern states, including Kentucky. Applications are submitted through the SARE Grant Management System following the annual Call for Proposals; the current deadline is December 5, 2026. Proposals are reviewed by regional administrative council committees.

Emergency Loan Program is sponsored by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). This program provides low-interest federal disaster loans to eligible agricultural producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation. These loans help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine. Funds can be used to replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed, and seed, cover family living expenses, or refinance farm-related debts.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USDA-FS). This program provides funding for the fee simple acquisition of threatened private forest lands at least five acres in size within portions of the Lake Superior Basin of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Rural Workforce Development Grants is sponsored by USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). These grants are intended to build job training infrastructure in rural areas. They support professional development opportunities, non-formal education cultivating interest in food and agriculture, workforce training at community colleges, and fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars in food and agricultural sciences.

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) Program provides $300 million in total funding for integrated research, education, and extension projects across six priority areas: Plant Health and Production, Animal Health and Production, Food Safety and Nutrition, Bioenergy and Natural Resources, Agriculture Systems and Technology, and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. The Agriculture Systems and Technology priority area specifically supports advanced technologies including AI, precision agriculture, robotics, sensor systems, and data-driven decision-making in farming and food systems. Awards range from $10,000 to $10,000,000 with most falling in the $500,000 to $750,000 range. The program supports both fundamental and applied research that advances agricultural innovation through emerging technologies. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, 2026.

Diseases of Agricultural Animals (part of Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Foundational and Applied Science program) is sponsored by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This program supports projects that develop strategies to understand, diagnose, control, and prevent agricultural animal diseases. Outcomes include, but are not limited to, new and improved vaccines and diagnostics.

The NSF and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have issued a joint Dear Colleague Letter inviting proposals for foundational research in agricultural robotics through the FRR program. This collaboration aims to advance robotics with transformative potential in agricultural contexts, addressing critical needs in farming, crop management, livestock systems, and agricultural sciences. Proposals must present a compelling vision for pioneering robots in agriculture and be clearly justified by important agricultural needs. The program leverages NSF's robotics research expertise with NIFA's agricultural domain knowledge to accelerate innovation in farm automation, autonomous field operations, and intelligent agricultural systems. Awards range from $174,000 to $5,000,000 with rolling submissions.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program – Education and Workforce Development – Predoctoral Fellowships (A7101) is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This program helps develop new scientists and professionals to enter research, education, and/or extension fields within the food and agricultural sciences. The fellowships aim to cultivate future leaders who can solve emerging agricultural challenges, particularly those addressing agricultural production capability, new markets for agriculture and forestry products, value-added innovation, and agricultural science policy leadership.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) Program is a grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds agricultural research, education, and extension projects to advance the science underpinning the U.S. food and agricultural system. The program supports work spanning plant and animal health, food safety and nutrition, rural economies, and agricultural sustainability. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, universities, and research institutions. Awards range from ,000 to million depending on the project type. The application deadline is December 31, 2026. Projects should advance both foundational knowledge and practical solutions for the agricultural sector.

Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program (TCRGP) is sponsored by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Grants to tribal colleges and universities for research projects that address concerns and needs of tribal and reservation communities, including projects that focus on health, food, nutrition, and agricultural production research.

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) is sponsored by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) / USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP).

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (AWT Program Area Priority) is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This program area priority within AFRI's Education and Workforce Development program aims to develop a workforce for the food and agricultural sector by supporting new or expanding existing workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges. This includes expanding job-based experiential learning, industry-accepted credentials, and occupational competencies for students. The program supports projects involving biotechnology and other emerging technologies.

TechAccess: AI-Ready America is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This national initiative aims to accelerate AI readiness and adoption across the U.S. by expanding access to AI knowledge, tools, and training for individuals, communities, and businesses, especially small and emerging enterprises. It focuses on strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships, and scaling effective approaches. The program supports State/Territory Coordination Hubs to drive AI readiness.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Cooperative Agreement is sponsored by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The RFSI program aims to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, and support the development of value-added products. Funds support expanded capacity for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products (excluding meat and poultry).

Colorado Business Builder: Small Grants Program is sponsored by Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center (USDA-funded). Grants designed to support small to mid-scale Colorado food and farm businesses, including value-added food businesses like bakeries. Funds can support business skills development, market expansion, and strengthening of local/regional food supply chains.

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAG) is sponsored by USDA Rural Development. This program helps eligible communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Funds can be used for water transmission line grants (up to $150,000) to construct waterline extensions, repair breaks or leaks, and related maintenance, or for water source grants (up to $1,000,000) for new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, and treatment plants.