The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Southwest Regional Food Business Center have launched the Business Builder Award Program to support small and mid-sized farms and food-related businesses.

From now until Saturday, February 15, the Center will be accepting applications in Arizona for grants up to $100,000.

“The Regional Food Business Centers are a cornerstone of USDA’s food system transformation efforts, serving to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access the resources and technical assistance they need to access new markets,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “The Southwest Center’s Business Builder Subaward program will empower the region’s small and mid-sized farmers and food businesses to launch and expand their operations by establishing new revenue streams and gaining investors.”

Eligible applicants include (but may not be limited to) Arizona-based:

• Agricultural producers, growers, value-added producers  
• Aggregators, distributors, processors, and food hubs
• Cooperatives and non-profit organizations 
• Retailers and farmers markets
• Small-sized applicants must have gross annual sales of less than $350,000
• Mid-sized applicants must have gross annual sales greater than $350,000 but less than $1 million

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Business planning, feasibility studies, and market analysis
• Brand development and marketing materials
• Product development, labeling, and packaging
• Food safety compliance, training, and planning
• Value-chain coordination, salaries, operating costs, and equipment/vehicles
• Improving processing, marketing, and distribution services
• Cold storage, both for individual entities and for central shared storage/warehouses
• Refrigerated transportation
• Aggregation centers for products (physical or online)
• Equipment in processing centers for meat, poultry, or canning 

Those who want to apply should visit Local First’s Business Builder Awards at goodfoodfinderaz.com. 

“As Local First Arizona works with local and national partners to build the innovative Southwest Regional Food Business Center, we are focusing on our heritage as a robust agricultural state,” said Kimber Lanning, Local First Founder and CEO.

Awards will be prioritized for businesses that are located in a distressed or at-risk community (learn more here: EIG Distressed Communities Index) or are categorized as socially vulnerable (learn more here: USDA Social Vulnerability Index).

Don’t forget: all applications must be completed by Saturday, February 15. The next round of applications will be accepted between June 1 – July 15.

“Local First is becoming a national model for success at supporting rural and tribal communities, revitalizing our food system through regenerative practices that respond to climate change, and growing investment capital in our state to create a more prosperous Arizona,” Lanning added.

To apply for Local First’s Business Builder Awards, visit goodfoodfinderaz.com. To learn more about the Southwest Regional Food Business Center, visit swfoodbiz.org.

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