Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Guam under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Guam are working together to offer over $2 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Guam is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding beginning April 1, 2024.
In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates for each state’s Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.
“This partnership between USDA and Guam is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region’s small and midsize producers to thrive, expand access to nutritious food options, and increase supply chain resiliency.”
Using RFSI funding, the Guam Department of Agriculture will fund projects that enhance storage, transportation, aggregation, and distribution of agricultural products. Funded projects will also provide training on climate change, optimizing farm operations, safe food handling, record-keeping, and business formalization. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.
“Guam’s cooperative agreement under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program will serve not just as a bridge but a lifeline for connecting families to fresh fruits and vegetables. It will do this by dismantling barriers for our farmers–barriers such as processing, storage, and transportation. By nourishing our communities with foods grown here and not flown or shipped here, we are cultivating resilience, ensuring that no family is left behind in the pursuit of health and well-being,” said Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero.
Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the Guam Department of Agriculture beginning April 1 through April 30, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.
For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.
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