The point-of-contact for this grant is Matthew Loke, State Coordinator, Agricultural Development Division (phone: 808-973-9576, email: hdoa.rfsi@hawaii.gov).
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HDOA just posted its RFA for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. HDOA will be awarding a total of ~$2.5MM in grants. Equipment grants can range from $10K to $100K and dont require a match. See link below.
https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/23747
HDOA is currently accepting applications for grant projects under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. Funds for the program are awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to HDOA. The funds in turn are granted to food and farm businesses and other eligible entities in Hawaii to finance competitive projects designed to expand capacity and infrastructure in the middle-of-the-supply chain of the local food system. The intent is to create more economic opportunities for communities, and allowing them to retain more of the value chain dollar.
Two grant opportunities are currently available. The Infrastructure Grant Program will offer up to $1,587,480 in funding and the Simplified Equipment-Only Grant Program will provide an additional $1,000,000. Applicants may select either one type of grant offering. Infrastructure grants range in value from a minimum award of $100,000 to a maximum award of $500,000 (see section V for matching fund requirement). Simplified Equipment-Only grants range in value from a minimum award of $10,000 and a maximum award of $100,000 (no matching fund requirement).
Examples of Eligible Project Activities Allowable activities or tasks that could be part of such projects may include:
• Hiring term-limited personnel to assist with project implementation activities;
• Purchasing special purpose equipment, including the purchase of special purpose equipment for institutions or others that will benefit multiple producers through middle of the supply chain activities such as processing, aggregation, distribution of targeted agricultural product;
• Analyzing potential facility upgrades and changes that meet regulatory requirements, obtaining design and/or architecture services, etc. (to the extent these costs are directly related to the project);
• Planning for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) or other food safety or worker safety measures or equipment recommendations;
• Upgrades or new facilities for processing specific agricultural products, such as on-farm post-harvest processing, preservation, and storage/cold storage;
• Post-harvest cleaning and grading;
• Aggregator warehouse and storage, including cooperatives;
• Purchase of drying equipment, freezing equipment, freezer, or cold storage;
• Processing, canning, preserving, and pasteurization;
• Preparation and packing;
• Drying, hulling, shelling, and milling; and
• Cooking, baking, juicing, distilling, and fermenting.