Regional Food System Partnership Fiscal Year 2026

The Regional Food System Partnerships program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Marketing Service and operates under the broader Local Agriculture Market Program. This initiative is designed to strengthen local and regional food economies by fostering collaboration among public and private stakeholders. The program supports coordinated efforts that improve infrastructure, expand market opportunities, and enhance the viability of food system enterprises. By connecting producers, businesses, and communities, the program aims to build resilient food systems that increase economic opportunity and improve access to locally produced food. The primary purpose of the program is to support partnerships that bring together diverse stakeholders to plan and develop regional food systems. These partnerships are expected to coordinate resources, identify shared goals, and implement strategies that strengthen food supply chains. The program encourages activities that expand direct producer-to-consumer marketing, develop value-added agricultural products, and improve local and regional market access. Projects must demonstrate collaboration across sectors and present measurable outcomes that contribute to long-term food system sustainability. Funding is provided through competitive grants, with approximately $4.71 million available and an anticipated 10 awards. Two project types are supported: Planning and Design projects, which focus on early-stage coordination and strategy development, and Implementation and Expansion projects, which build on prior efforts to scale and operationalize food system initiatives. Planning projects may last up to 24 months, while implementation projects may extend up to 36 months. Award amounts range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 depending on project type. Funds may be used for coordination, feasibility studies, outreach, technical assistance, and systems development, but cannot be used for agricultural production costs, land acquisition, or construction. A mandatory cost share requirement applies to all applicants. Recipients must provide a minimum 25 percent cash match from non-federal sources. Additional cost share beyond the minimum can strengthen an application and may contribute to priority scoring. Cost share must be verifiable and documented through formal letters of commitment at the time of application. Both cash and in-kind contributions are permitted beyond the required cash match, provided they comply with federal cost principles. Eligibility is limited to partnerships composed of at least one eligible entity and one or more partners. Eligible entities include nonprofits, local governments, tribal governments, producer organizations, and similar groups, while partners may include institutions of higher education, financial institutions, private corporations, and philanthropic organizations. All applicants must be domestic entities located within the United States or its territories. The applying organization must be designated to manage the award on behalf of the partnership. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include several required components such as the SF-424 forms, a detailed project narrative, letters of commitment from partners, and verification of cost share. The application narrative must outline project goals, activities, evaluation methods, and management structure. Applications are evaluated through a competitive merit review process that considers alignment with program goals, technical merit, partnership strength, feasibility, and fiscal planning. The application deadline is June 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and late submissions are not accepted. Projects are expected to begin around September 30, 2026, with timelines varying by project type. The program is offered annually, and future funding cycles are anticipated. Applicants may contact program staff via email for technical assistance but cannot receive feedback on application quality. Additional program guidance and resources are available through the official program website.

Focus on strong partnerships with clear roles; demonstrate measurable outcomes and evaluation plans; provide detailed and justified budget aligned with project scope; exceed minimum cost share when possible