Grants and Funding for Farm and Food Folks

New Grants for Indiana's Food System!

Indiana has a significant number of new resources for producers, processors, suppliers and distributors in the food and farming world. We want to help you navigate which grants you're eligible for, and can help you push your business forward. PIFF collaborated with the Indiana Department of Agriculture, the Indiana Department of Health, and the Northwest Indiana Food Council to put together this guide to new opportunities for you!

This chart lets you see what's available. Download the .pdf version here.

Scroll down for a handout about each program with details and links.

For Processors, Aggregators, Distributors, and Storage

Indiana Resource Opportunities_RFBC.docx.pdf

Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) and Business Builder Grants

What: Business planning and financial support
Who: Small to mid-sized farmers and middle of the supply chain food businesses (prioritizing socially disadvantaged farmers)
Applications: 2024
Timeline: 2024-27
Contact: Anne Massie, info@nwifoodcouncil.org & Virginia Pleasant, virginia@nwifoodcouncil.org

Full Handout with details: Coming soon.

Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP)

What: $15 million revolving loan program to support low-cost financing for upgrades, expansion, new construction, pollution control and packaging improvements
Who: Small and mid-sized meat and poultry processors in Indiana
Applications: 2024

Project timeline: 2024-26
Contact: www.in.gov/isda/grants-and-funding-opportunities/

More details coming soon!

For Producers and Suppliers

La Frontera

What: Capital improvement grants up to $15,000 for small and mid-size farms.
Who: Farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin selling to the Chicago area. Eligible farms must:

Be family-run with up to $600,000 in annual gross revenue.
Have been in business for at 3+ years
Not be nonprofit or connected to a nonprofit.
Sell in the Chicago area

Timeline: Application period is now OPEN for 2025 grants.

Contact: farmerfoundation@fronteragrill.net and ksullivan@fronteragrill.net

Full Handout with details: Available here.

Indiana Resource Opportunities_LFPA.docx.pdf

Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA)

What: Funds to purchase locally grown and raised food for marginalized food insecure communities.
Who: Farmers and food businesses who identify as socially disadvantaged
Timeline: Funding through 2028

Contact: Track 1 - Isis Eynon, ieynon@gleaners.org | Track 2 - Denise Jamerson, denise.jamerson@idoh.in.gov

Full Handout with details: Available here.

Indiana Resource Opportunities_SFIH.docx.pdf

School Food Innovation Hub

What: Funds to purchase locally grown food and supply schools through Local Food Connection and Region Roots food hubs
Who: Food grown, raised and produced from socially disadvantaged farmers and food businesses

Timeline: Funding through July 2024
Contact: Lewis Hughes, lhughes@whatchefswant.com & Veronica Jalomo, veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org

Full Handout with details: Available here.

Indiana Resource Opportunities_Dairy Business Builder.pdf

Dairy Business Builder Grant

What: Support for the creation of value added products, farm diversification, enhancing the value of dairy or dairy by-products and entering export markets.
Who: New or existing dairy farm or dairy manufacturing or processing facility in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Applications: Spring and Fall each year

Contact: www.cdr.wisc.edu/dbia-business-builder-grant

Full Handout with details: Available here.