Grants to Help Get Homegrown Foods to Market

Millions of new state dollars are now available for Illinoisans interested in building out the state’s network of local food infrastructure – from animal processing to trucking, and food hubs to community kitchens.

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is announcing that between now and Jan. 31, 2024, nearly $2 million in funds are available for applicants who have an idea to get more homegrown foods to market. Grants of up to $150,000 per project will be awarded through the Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant, with funds to be distributed after projects are considered in March 2024.

The deadline for applicants is Jan. 31. For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.illinoislfig.org.

The program is the result of an advocacy campaign by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, which recognized the state’s food system has one major challenge: while there are farmers with exciting products ready for broader consumer consumption, the infrastructure needed to get those to market needs strengthened.

The group’s legislation resulted in a $2 million state grant, approved by the state Legislature and Gov. Pritkzer’s administration and provided by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, for the Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant program this year.

After the Jan. 31 deadline, grant applications will be reviewed by a committee of local agriculture and food specialists. Only one grant is available per applicant, at a cap of $150,000 per award, and a minimum of 12 grants will be awarded.

Eligible applicants include Illinois farms or cooperatives with fewer than 50 employees, similar-sized processing facilities or food businesses, local governments, health care entities and even correctional facilities. Allowed expenses include transportation vehicles such as refrigerated trucks, milling or pressing equipment, cooler walls and refrigeration units, and much more.

Preference will be given to proposals that have established community support, have a positive economic impact on the local food sector, increase availability of agricultural products to underserved communities, projects involving underserved farmers, and those that support long-term economic development in local foods.

Program administrators say the goal of this initial round of project funding is to tap into the innovative thinking across Illinois to expand the local food network, and also to show the promise of growing this program to turn this initial round into a long-term investment in local food infrastructure.

“We are excited to partner with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to open new doors of opportunity for dedicated people who share our commitment to a stronger local food network in every part of the state,” said Josh Snedden, Grant Program Coordinator for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. “We encourage anyone with a good idea to submit their proposals by Jan. 31 and look forward to reviewing and supporting a great first slate of infrastructure ideas next spring.”