Funding

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Frequently Asked Questions

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Frequently Asked Questions

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program is currently accepting applications until April 5th for Infrastructure and Equipment-only projects that expand capacity for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of food products, for specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.

We’ve been asked lots of questions about the program, so we worked with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to develop this list of frequently asked questions.

Screening for fit: How to save time when looking for grants

Screening for fit: How to save time when looking for grants

When you first find a grant program that could fit your interests, your main source of information will typically be a document called the “Request for Applications”, also called the “RFA” or in federal programs, a “Notice of Funding Availability” or “NOFA”. This document is key in determining if a grant is a good fit for you or your organization and can easily surpass 40 pages in length. While you will need to read the entire document eventually, we suggest reviewing the following sections first:

KCARD Guest Blogger: Farm Service Agency

KCARD Guest Blogger: Farm Service Agency

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be showcasing partners in our Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar series. These partners provide funding opportunities to Kentucky’s agricultural producers and agribusinesses. In this post, we are learning about the Farm Service Agency and the programs they administer.

KCARD Guest Blogger: Kentucky State University

KCARD Guest Blogger: Kentucky State University

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be showcasing partners in our Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar series. These partners provide funding opportunities to Kentucky’s agricultural producers and agribusinesses. In this post, we are learning about Kentucky State University and the assistance they provide.

KCARD Guest Blogger: US Department of Agriculture Rural Development

KCARD Guest Blogger: US Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be showcasing partners in our Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar series. These partners provide funding opportunities to Kentucky’s agricultural producers and agribusinesses. The USDA Rural Development Office is an important partner in KCARD’s work as we apply for funding from their office to continue our work with Kentucky’s producers and rural and agribusinesses but also because they offer a wealth of programs to Kentucky’s rural businesses. In this post, we are learning about the USDA Rural Development and the programs they administer.

Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar Series

Growing Your Farm and Food Business Webinar Series

The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) will be hosting a series of five “Growing Your Farm and Food Business” webinars this October to assist agricultural producers and food businesses with understanding business fundamentals, identifying grant opportunities, and developing a strategy to seek funding. Webinars will take place from 10:00am – 11:30am Eastern/9:00am -10:30am Central and will be available for later viewing.

Growing Your Farm and Food Business Workshops

It is workshop season again! The KCARD Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshops will provide an in-depth understanding of business plan development along with an overview of funding options for farmers and agribusinesses in Kentucky. Each workshop will bring together speakers who work directly with national and state funding programs. Programs from USDA, the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and other agencies will be covered with many of these entities present and available for questions.

There will be a $18 per person fee to attend the workshop, with dinner and educational materials provided. For further information visit the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Facebook page or contact Kati Bowman at kbowman@kcard.info or 859-415-4909.  

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Hopkins County

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 75 Cornwall Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Boone County

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 6028 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, KY 41005

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Adair County

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 409 Fairground Street, Columbia, KY 42728

Register Here!

Growing Your Farm and Food Business - Wolfe County

Date: Tuesday, December 10

Time: 4:30pm - 8:30pm local time

Location: 20 North Washington Street, Campton, KY 41301

Register Here!